This is the 9098th most frequent Portuguese word.
berço
Cradle or crib.
Here, 'berço' is used to mean a physical object: a crib, where babies sleep.
O bebê dorme tranquilamente em seu berço.
The baby sleeps peacefully in its crib.
Here, 'berço' is figuratively describing the origin location of a group or civilization.
Esse rio é o berço da antiga civilização.
This river is the cradle of the ancient civilization.
In this sentence, 'berço' metaphorically represents the place or origin of an idea or movement.