a small bed for a baby that can be pushed gently from side to side 摇篮 
- [usually singular] cradle of something
the place where something important began 策源地；发源地；发祥地 Greece, the cradle of Western civilization 希腊，西方文明的摇篮
- (British English)
a small platform that can be moved up and down the outside of a high building, used by people cleaning windows, etc. （高楼外供清洁窗户等用的）吊架，托架，吊篮 the part of a phone on which the handset rests （电话机的）听筒架，叉托支架
Word OriginOld English cradol, of uncertain origin; perhaps related to German Kratte ‘basket’.
Idioms
from the cradle to the grave
a way of referring to the whole of a person’s life, from birth until death 一生；一世；从生到死
rob the cradle
- (North American English, informal)
to have a sexual relationship with a much younger person 老牛吃嫩草（指跟比自己年龄小很多的人发生性关系）