1. a person or device that rocks or gently moves a cradle
2. a tool or machine used in gold panning or mining to separate ore or sediment
Usage: mining
3. a person who holds or supports something gently and carefully

Examples

• The cradler gently rocked the baby to sleep.
• A skilled cradler operated the mining equipment to extract gold from the riverbed.
• She was a tender cradler of newborn animals at the wildlife sanctuary.
• The cradler device swayed back and forth with a soothing rhythm.
• He worked as a cradler in the old gold mines of California.
• The nurse was an experienced cradler of premature infants.