1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Cradle.
2. (n.) The act of using a cradle.
3. (n.) Cutting a cask into two pieces lengthwise, to enable it to pass a narrow place, the two parts being afterward united and rehooped.
4. (n.) The framework in arched or coved ceilings to which the laths are nailed.
Thesaurus Entries
United Nations troops, abatement, allayment, alleviation, appeasement, appeasing, assuagement, blunting, conciliation, cradling, damping, deadening, demulsion, detente, diminution, dreamy, drowsy, dulcification, dulling, easing, easing of relations, falling-off, gentling, hushing, leniency, lessening, letdown, letup, lightening, loosening, lulling, mediation, mitigation, modulation, mollification, mollifying, pacification, pacifying, palliation, peace-keeping force, peacemaking, peacemongering, placability, placation, propitiation, quietening, quieting, reduction, relaxation, relaxation of tension, remission, restful, rocking, slackening, softening, soothful, soothing, stilling, subduement, tempering, tranquilization, tranquilizing
