cradle
cradle — 名詞
- cradlesingular
- cradlesplural
1. A small bed designed for a baby to sleep in, built with side rails and often fit
搖籃
嬰兒用可搖動的小床
A small bed designed for a baby to sleep in, built with side rails and often fitted with rockers so it can be gently moved back and forth.
Mizuki placed the sleeping baby gently into the cradle and began to hum a soft tune.
Mizuki 把熟睡的嬰兒輕輕放進搖籃，開始哼起柔和的曲子。
cradle + placement preposition: into the cradle
The old oak cradle had rocked three generations of babies in the family.
那座老橡木搖籃曾經搖過家中三代嬰兒。
generational possession: family cradle
A thin blanket covered the infant in the cradle near the sunlit window.
一條薄毯蓋在窗邊搖籃裡的嬰兒身上。
Jude built a simple wooden cradle for his sister's first baby.
Jude 為他姐姐的第一個寶寶做了一個簡單的木製搖籃。
DIY / gift context
The handmade cradle rocked softly as the grandmother sang a lullaby.
那張手工搖籃輕輕搖動，祖母哼著搖籃曲。
rock + cradle: typical motion
- rock a cradle
- cradle song / lullaby
- wooden cradle
- place the baby in a cradle
用法筆記
Often associated with a gentle rocking motion to soothe a baby to sleep.
常見錯誤
2. A specially shaped holder that holds an electronic device upright while its batt
充電座
放置電子裝置充電的底座
A specially shaped holder that holds an electronic device upright while its battery receives power through a connected charging cable or contacts.
Tuan dropped his phone into the charging cradle on the desk and watched the battery icon turn green.
Tuan 把手機放進桌上的充電座，看著電池圖示變成綠色。
charging cradle for phone
The camera comes with a cradle that also transfers photos to a computer while charging.
這台相機附有一個充電座，充電時還能同時將照片傳到電腦。
cradle + dual function: charge and transfer
Élise bought a wireless charging cradle for her earbuds so she would never lose the charging cable again.
Élise 買了一個無線充電座來放她的耳機，這樣她就不會再弄丟充電線了。
Yan placed the tablet in the cradle on the nightstand before sleeping.
Yan 在睡前把平板電腦放在床頭櫃的充電座上。
cradle + location preposition: in the cradle on [surface]
The office desk had a charging cradle for each employee's work phone.
辦公桌上每個員工的工作手機都配有一個充電座。
- charging cradle
- phone cradle
- wireless cradle
- place the phone in the cradle
- charging dock
Often interchangeable, though 'dock' may imply a more elaborate setup with extra ports.
- charging station
Usually refers to a larger unit that can charge multiple devices at once.
- base
A broader term; a base may charge a device or simply hold it steady.
用法筆記
Common in product descriptions and technology contexts. Often preceded by a modifier such as 'charging cradle', 'phone cradle', or 'wireless cradle'.
3. A suspended platform that hangs from ropes or cables alongside a tall building,
吊架
懸掛在建築物外牆的工作架
A suspended platform that hangs from ropes or cables alongside a tall building, bridge, or ship, giving workers access to high exterior areas that are hard to reach.
The window cleaners stood on a narrow cradle suspended thirty floors above the street.
洗窗工人站在離地面三十層樓高的狹窄吊架上。
suspended cradle for window cleaning
Workers lowered the painting cradle carefully down the side of the bridge to reach the rusted steel beams.
工人們小心地把油漆吊架沿著橋側放下，以便接觸到生鏽的鋼樑。
Faisal checked the safety ropes twice before stepping onto the cradle that hung beside the skyscraper.
Faisal 踏上摩天大樓旁的吊架前，仔細檢查了安全繩兩次。
safety context: checking ropes before stepping onto the cradle
The maintenance crew used an electric winch to raise the cradle to the roof level.
維修團隊用電動絞車將吊架升到屋頂高度。
Quinn watched the workers on the cradle scrub the stained glass windows of the cathedral.
Quinn 看著吊架上的工人清洗大教堂的彩繪玻璃窗。
cradle + specific task: scrubbing windows
- suspended cradle
- window-cleaning cradle
- lower the cradle
- painting cradle
- scaffold
A temporary structure built on the ground or from the building itself, rather than suspended.
- platform
Broader term; a platform can be fixed or mobile, on the ground or suspended.
- bosun's chair
A single-person seat suspended by rope, used for one worker rather than a team.
用法筆記
Technical term used in construction, maintenance, and maritime industries. Not common in everyday conversation.
4. The location, culture, or historical setting where an important idea, movement,
發源地
重要事物起源的地方
The location, culture, or historical setting where an important idea, movement, or civilization first started and developed.
Ancient Greece is widely regarded as the cradle of Western philosophy and democratic government.
古希臘被廣泛視為西方哲學與民主制度的發源地。
cradle of [civilisation / field]: metaphorical origin
The Mekong Delta is considered the cradle of a unique river-based culture in Southeast Asia.
湄公河三角洲被認為是東南亞獨特河流文化的發源地。
This small town in Tuscany was the cradle of the Renaissance art movement that changed Europe forever.
托斯卡尼的這個小鎮是文藝復興藝術運動的發源地，這場運動永遠改變了歐洲。
cradle of + art movement
The Indus Valley is considered one of the oldest cradles of urban civilisation in the world.
印度河流域被認為是世界上最早的城市文明發源地之一。
cradle of civilization: fixed expression
Evelyn wrote her thesis on why Silicon Valley became the cradle of modern computing.
Evelyn 的論文主題是矽谷為何成為現代電腦科技的發源地。
- cradle of civilization
- cradle of democracy
- cradle of an idea
- birthplace
More literal and common; used for individuals or things that started somewhere.
- wellspring
More poetic; suggests a continuous source rather than a single starting point.
文法句型
cradle of [something]
用法筆記
Typically used with 'of' followed by an abstract noun (civilisation, democracy, culture, movement). Frequently found in historical or cultural writing.
常見錯誤
5. The earliest stage of human life, covering the period from birth through very ea
幼年；嬰兒期
人生的最初階段
The earliest stage of human life, covering the period from birth through very early childhood.
Esme had been drawn to the piano from the cradle, and by age four she could play simple melodies.
她從幼年就對鋼琴著迷，四歲時已經能彈簡單的旋律。
from the cradle: since birth/early infancy
The twins had shared a room since the cradle and could not sleep apart.
那對雙胞胎從嬰兒時期就共用一個房間，分開就睡不著。
Stories told to a child from the cradle can shape their imagination for a lifetime.
從嬰兒期就講給孩子聽的故事，可以影響他們一生的想像力。
Adisa had been fascinated by maps from the cradle, so his parents bought him a globe.
Adisa 從幼年就對地圖著迷，於是父母買了一個地球儀給他。
from the cradle: since early childhood
Her love of languages was nurtured from the cradle by her multilingual family.
她對語言的熱愛是從幼年時期就在多語家庭中培養出來的。
- from the cradle
- since the cradle
- in the cradle
文法句型
from the cradle
用法筆記
Usually appears in the fixed phrases 'from the cradle' or 'in the cradle', rather than as a standalone noun referring to a specific baby's infancy.
常見錯誤
Throughout the entire span of a person's life, from birth until death.
從搖籃到墳墓；一生
The new national health plan covers every citizen from the cradle to the grave.
In that small village, the church was part of life from the cradle to the grave — baptisms, weddings, and funerals all happened there.
rob the cradle
idiomTo have a romantic or sexual relationship with someone who is much younger than oneself, especially when the age gap is considered socially questionable.
老牛吃嫩草
The neighbours whispered that the forty-year-old lawyer was robbing the cradle by dating a twenty-year-old student.
When Tariro introduced his new girlfriend at the family dinner, his older sister teased him about robbing the cradle.
cradle — 動詞
- cradlepresent simple I / you / we / they
- cradles3rd person singular
- cradling-ing form
- cradledpast simple
1. To hold an object or a living thing close to your body with gentle, protective s
輕抱；輕托
用手臂溫柔地抱住或托住
To hold an object or a living thing close to your body with gentle, protective support, usually by wrapping your arms or hands around it.
Heloísa cradled the injured bird in her palms and carried it carefully to the vet.
Heloísa 輕輕托起受傷的小鳥在掌心裡，小心翼翼地帶去獸醫那裡。
cradle + object in [body part]
The old man cradled his coffee cup with both hands, warming his fingers on the ceramic surface.
老人雙手捧著咖啡杯，讓手指在陶瓷杯壁上取暖。
Christopher cradled his newborn daughter in his arms and whispered a promise to protect her.
Christopher 把剛出生的女兒輕抱在懷中，低聲承諾要保護她。
cradle + person in arms: protective embrace
Manuela cradled the fragile ceramic bowl against her chest as she walked through the crowded kitchen.
她將易碎的陶瓷碗護在胸前，穿過擁擠的廚房。
- cradle in one's arms
- cradle gently
- cradle a cup / phone / baby
文法句型
cradle + object + in/with [body part]
用法筆記
Describes a careful, protective manner of holding. The image is of a baby in a cradle — secure and gently supported. Object is usually something fragile, precious, or in need of care.
常見錯誤
2. To care for and foster the growth of a person, skill, organisation, or idea duri
養育；孕育
在早期階段培養或扶持
To care for and foster the growth of a person, skill, organisation, or idea during its earliest and most vulnerable stage.
The small theatre company cradled her talent as a playwright, producing her first three works.
這家小劇院培育了她的劇作家才華，製作了她最早的三部作品。
cradle + abstract object: talent
Marta's grandmother had cradled her love of cooking by letting her stir the pots from the age of five.
Marta 的祖母在她五歲時就讓她攪拌鍋子，從小培養了她對烹飪的熱愛。
The university's research fund was designed to cradle new ideas until they were strong enough to attract outside investors.
大學的研究基金旨在孕育新的想法，直到它們成長到足以吸引外部投資者。
cradle + abstract object: new ideas
Cyrus's parents cradled his passion for music by taking him to concerts every month.
Cyrus 的父母每月帶他去聽音樂會，從小培養了他對音樂的熱情。
The community centre cradled the young artist's talent by offering free studio space.
社區中心提供免費的工作室空間，培育了這位年輕藝術家的才華。
cradle + abstract object: talent
- cradle a talent
- cradle an idea
- cradle a movement
- neglect
To fail to give proper care or attention, stunting development.
文法句型
cradle + object (talent, idea, movement)
用法筆記
Less common than the physical 'hold gently' sense. Typically used in formal or literary writing about the early development of talents, movements, or institutions.