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Cradle

Domesticity
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A baby's bed that evokes beginnings, nurture, vulnerability, and song.

Detailed Definition
In poetry, the cradle often carries both tenderness and unease. Its rocking motion can suggest lullaby, maternal care, repetition, and the fragile rhythm of early life. An empty cradle may become a powerful sign of absence or loss, while an inherited one can connect generations through touch and woodwork. The image allows poets to consider how a home shelters new life while also exposing it to time, fear, and change.
Example
Example in poetry:
The cradle is a powerful image of infancy, protection, vulnerability, and parental hope; “The empty cradle rocked when the window opened” can suggest loss without explaining it directly; In a lullaby-like poem, the cradle’s motion can shape a gentle rhythm; A cradle passed from parent to child can symbolize continuity while also reminding the speaker that each child is separate
Additional Notes
A cradle evokes infancy and protection, especially when paired with rocking, lullabies, or silence. It may also introduce parental fear, inheritance, and future hopes.
Other Meanings of “Cradle”
Also Known As
Bassinet Cot dandle
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