Topic: TELEPHONE, TELEGRAPH
 |
| Language: | Old English |
| Origin: | cradol |
| |||||||||
cra‧dle1
1DHB [countable] a small bed for a baby, especially one that moves gently from side to side [↪ cot]:
2 the place where something important began : 
Athens is often regarded as the cradle of democracy.
the cradle of something
formalAthens is often regarded as the cradle of democracy.3 all through your life : From cradle to grave, the car marks every rite of American passage.
from (the) cradle to (the) grave
From cradle to grave, the car marks every rite of American passage.4 [singular] the beginning of something :
5TBC [countable] a structure that is used to lift something heavy up or down : a window-cleaner's cradle
a window-cleaner's cradle6TCT [countable] the part of a telephone where you put the receiver when you are not using it : She replaced the receiver on the cradle.
She replaced the receiver on the cradle. ➔ cat's cradle
