名詞 cradle:

1. a baby bed with sides and rockers
2. where something originated or was nurtured in its early existence
   同義詞：birthplace, place of origin, provenance, provenience
3. birth of a person
4. a trough that can be rocked back and forth; used by gold miners to shake auriferous earth in water in order to separate the gold
   同義詞：rocker

動詞 cradle:

1. hold gently and carefully
2. bring up from infancy
3. hold or place in or as if in a cradle
4. cut grain with a cradle scythe
5. wash in a cradle
6. run with the stick

1. The baby slumbered in his cradle.
   嬰兒安睡在搖籃里。
2. The sea is thought to have been the cradle of life.
   人們認為海洋曾經(jīng)是生命的發(fā)源地。

cra.dle

n.（名詞）
A small low bed for an infant, often furnished with rockers.
搖籃：一種為嬰兒準備的小而低矮的床，通常裝有彎桿

The earliest period of life:
嬰兒時期：人生的最早階段：
例句：
from the cradle to the grave.
從生到死

A place of origin; a birthplace:
發(fā)源地；出生地：
例句：
the cradle of civilization.
文明的發(fā)源地

A framework of wood or metal used to support something, such as a ship undergoing construction or repair.
支架：用以支撐某物的木制或金屬框架，如正在建造中或維修中的船只
A framework used to protect an injured limb.
護架：保護受傷的四肢的支架
A low flat framework that rolls on casters, used by a mechanic working beneath an automobile.Also called creeper
輪腳架：在汽車底下工作的修理工使用的、在腳輪上滾動的低平框架也作 creeper
The part of a telephone that contains the connecting switch upon which the receiver and mouthpiece unit is supported.
叉簧：電話機中包括接線開關(guān)、擱電話聽筒和送話器的那部分

A frame projecting above a scythe, used to catch grain as it is cut so that it can be laid flat.
搖籃架：大鐮刀上的突起框架，是用來使割下來的作物平整放置的配件
A scythe equipped with such a frame.
鐮刀：裝配有搖籃架的大鐮刀
A boxlike device furnished with rockers, used for washing gold-bearing dirt.
洗礦槽：一種用來清洗含金土的帶有彎桿的盒狀器械
v.（動詞）
cra.dled,cra.dling,cra.dles
v.tr.（及物動詞）

To place or retain in or as if in a cradle.
放在搖籃里：把…放置或留在搖籃里或似搖籃物里
To care for or nurture in infancy.
撫養(yǎng)：在嬰兒期照料或養(yǎng)育嬰兒
To hold or support protectively:
緊抱：保護性地擁住或環(huán)抱：
例句：
cradled the cat in his arms.
懷抱著小貓

To reap (grain) with a cradle.
收割：用附有搖籃架的大鐮刀收割（作物）
To place or support (a ship, for example) in a cradle.
置于支架上：用支架放置或支撐（如船只）
To wash (gold-bearing dirt) in a cradle.
在洗礦槽中淘洗（含金土）
v.intr.Obsolete （不及物動詞）【廢語】
To lie in or as if in a cradle.
躺在搖籃里：躺在搖籃中或象是躺在搖籃中

來源：
Middle English cradel
中古英語 cradel
from Old English
源自 古英語

【引伸】
cra.dler
n.（名詞）