To contain in or as if in a cradle.
To rock (a baby to sleep).
To wrap protectively, to hold gently and protectively.
cradling the injured man’s head in her arms
To lull or quieten, as if by rocking.
To nurse or train in infancy.
To rock the lacrosse stick back and forth in order to keep the ball in the head by means of centrifugal force.
To cut and lay (grain) with a cradle.
To transport a vessel by means of a cradle.
To put ribs across the back of (a picture), to prevent the panels from warping.