cradling

Pluralcradlings

1. 1
   verb

   Present participle and gerund of cradle. Use it after 'is', 'are' or 'was', or to name the action itself.

   She was cradling the sleepy puppy in her arms.

   Grandpa sat by the fire, cradling a mug of hot cocoa.

   Note
2. 2
   nouncountable or uncountable

   Holding a baby or something else gently and carefully, to keep it safe.

   A little gentle cradling helped the tired baby fall asleep.

   The new dad was nervous at first, but his cradling got better each day.

   Note
3. 3
   noununcountable

   The wooden frame inside a curved ceiling that thin strips of wood are nailed to.

   The builders put up the cradling before they started on the round ceiling.

   Old cradling showed through where the plaster had fallen down.

   Note
4. 4
   noununcountable

   Cutting a barrel in two the long way so it fits through a narrow space, then joining it again.

   Cradling was the only way to get the big barrel down the narrow stairs.

   The cooper finished the cradling and put new hoops on the barrel.

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