What is the meaning of cradle?

noun

• A baby bed with sides and rockers.
• Where something originated or was nurtured in its early existence.
  • usage: "the birthplace of civilization"
  • synonyms: birthplace, place of origin, provenance, provenience
• Birth of a person.
  • usage: "he was taught from the cradle never to cry"
• 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.
  • synonyms: rocker

verb

• Hold gently and carefully.
  • usage: "He cradles the child in his arms"
• Bring up from infancy.
• Hold or place in or as if in a cradle.
  • usage: "He cradled the infant in his arms"
• Cut grain with a cradle scythe.
• Wash in a cradle.
  • usage: "cradle gold"
• Run with the stick. .