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    cradle

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    cradle
    I
    cra‧dle1 /ˈkreɪdl/ noun
     Language: Old English
     Origin: cradol
    1. [countable] a small bed for a baby, especially one that moves gently from side to side ⇨ cot:
        She rocked the cradle to quieten the child.
    2. the cradle of something formal the place where something important began:
        Athens is often regarded as the cradle of democracy.
    3. from (the) cradle to (the) grave all through your life:
        From cradle to grave, the car marks every rite of American passage.
    4. [singular] the beginning of something:
        Like most Catholic children, he had heard stories of Ireland from the cradle.
    5. [countable] a structure that is used to lift something heavy up or down:
        a window-cleaner’s cradle
    6. [countable] the part of a telephone where you put the receiver when you are not using it:
        She replaced the receiver on the cradle.
    ⇨ CAT’S CRADLE, ⇨ rob the cradle at rob(5)

    II
    cradle2 verb [transitive]
    1. to hold something gently, as if to protect it:
        John cradled the baby in his arms.
    2. to hold a telephone receiver by putting it between your ear and your shoulder:
        She hunched over the desk, telephone cradled at her neck.
         
    THESAURUS
       ▪ hug (also give somebody a hug) to put your arms around someone and hold them tightly to show love or friendship: Mother hugged him and tucked him into bed. | Come here and give me a big hug.
       ▪ embrace to put your arms around someone and hold him or her in a caring way. Embrace is more formal than hug: Jason warmly embraced his son. | The two leaders embraced each other.
       ▪ cuddle to put your arms around someone or something as a sign of love, especially a child or a small animal: She sat on a chair, cuddling her daughter. | He cuddled the puppy.
       ▪ put your arms around somebody to hold someone closely to your body, especially to comfort them or show that you love them: The woman put her arms around the sobbing boy.
       ▪ cradle written to hold someone very gently in your arms, like you would hold a baby: She held the baby in her arms. | She cradled his head in her hands and kissed him on the forehead