swaddle
/'swɔdl/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Verb:
- To wrap (someone, especially an infant) tightly in cloth or garments, typically for warmth, security, or to restrict movement.
- To envelop or bind snugly, as if with bandages.
Usage
- The primary use of "swaddle" is in the context of infant care. It describes the specific action of wrapping a baby snugly in a blanket or cloth, with the arms often held close to the body.
- It is a transitive verb and requires a direct object (e.g., swaddle ).
- The purpose is usually to soothe the baby, provide a sense of security, and promote sleep.
Examples
- Verb:
- The nurse showed the new parents how to swaddle their newborn safely.
- She gently swaddled the infant in a soft cotton blanket.
- In many cultures, it is traditional to swaddle babies for the first few months.
Advanced Usage
- Figurative Use: Can be used metaphorically to describe being tightly wrapped or enveloped by something non-physical.
- The valley was swaddled in a thick, morning fog.
- He felt swaddled in the warmth of their friendship.
Variants and Related Words
- Swaddling clothes (noun phrase): The strips of cloth or garments used to swaddle an infant. This phrase is often used historically or in literary contexts.
- The baby was laid in a manger, wrapped in swaddling clothes.
- Swaddling (noun/gerund): The action or practice of swaddling.
- Proper swaddling can help calm a fussy baby.
Synonyms
- Wrap: To cover or enclose in material. (Less specific than "swaddle.")
- Swathe: To wrap in several layers of fabric or bandages.
- Bundle up: To dress warmly in many clothes. (More general, not specific to infants.)
Antonyms
- Unwrap: To remove a wrapping.
- Unswaddle: (Less common) To remove swaddling clothes from.
- It was time to unswaddle the baby for a diaper change.
Related Phrases/Idioms
- While there are no common idioms with "swaddle," the phrase "swaddling clothes" is a fixed historical and literary term.
Verb
- wrap in swaddling clothes
- swaddled the infant