Main Entry: ²cradle

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): cra·dled; cra·dling \ˈkrād-liŋ, ˈkrā-d^əl-iŋ\

Date: 15th century

transitive verb 1 a : to place or keep in or as if in a cradle b : shelter, rear c : to support protectively or intimately <cradling the injured man's head in her arms>
2 : to cut (grain) with a cradle scythe
3 : to place, raise, support, or transport on a cradleintransitive verb obsolete : to rest in or as if in a cradle