Words / B2

KRAYDL/ˈkreɪdl/

A cradle is a small bed for a baby that can be rocked; also the place where something begins (a cradle of); as a verb, to hold gently: a cradle of industry; cradle to grave. Origin and birthplace are figurative twins; cot is a British baby-bed twin that does not rock. A cradle of industry featured in the geography case; still name the town. Mix-up: cradle vs ladle; crawl (a nearby headword); do not write cradle for a nursery advert with no origin or named town.

Meaning

A small bed for a baby that can be rocked; also the place where something begins (a cradle of); as a verb, to hold gently.

Examples

• “A cradle of industry featured in the geography case; still name the town.”
• “Cradle-to-grave welfare featured in the citizenship source, which is the life-course policy sense — still name the Act.”

Good to know

a baby’s cradle; a cradle of + noun; cradle to grave; cradle (verb). Close: cot / origin / birthplace. Trap: ladle. Geography, history, and citizenship. A rocking baby bed, or a place of origin — name the town or the Act.

Near in meaning

cot, birthplace, origin

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