What does "climb" mean?

1. (to go up using hands and feet) to move toward the top of something by using your hands and feet. 2. (to increase in level) to go up in amount, price, or position. 3. (plants growing upward) of a plant, to grow upward by attaching itself to a wall or fence. 4. (an upward journey) a journey or a period of time spent moving upward.

How do you use "climb"?

Often used with 'up' or as a transitive verb taking a direct object like 'stairs' or 'mountain'. Intransitive; often followed by 'to' and a specific number or level. Intransitive in this botanical sense.

climb

v. · n.

US //ˈkɫaɪm// UK //klˈaɪm// climb

1 to go up using hands and feet (v.)
A2 Elementary

to move toward the top of something by using your hands and feet.

to ascend an object or terrain by using the hands and feet for traction.

Example

The children love to climb the old oak tree in the backyard.

Example

The rescue team had to climb the sheer rock face in near-total darkness to reach the stranded hikers before the storm arrived.

Usage

Often used with 'up' or as a transitive verb taking a direct object like 'stairs' or 'mountain'.
- descend
2 to increase in level (v.)
B1 Intermediate

to go up in amount, price, or position.

to rise to a higher point, intensity, or rank.

Example

Temperatures are expected to climb to thirty degrees this afternoon.

Example

Stock prices continued to climb steadily throughout the fiscal quarter, buoyed by unexpectedly strong consumer spending data.

Usage

Intransitive; often followed by 'to' and a specific number or level.
- fall
- drop

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3 plants growing upward (v.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Botany

of a plant, to grow upward by attaching itself to a wall or fence.

to grow upwards by clinging to a support structure via tendrils or twining stems.

Example

Ivy started to climb the side of the house, covering the bricks in green.

Example

The gardener installed a wooden trellis to encourage the clematis to climb toward the sunlight.

Usage

Intransitive in this botanical sense.
- twine
- creep
4 an upward journey (n.)
B1 Intermediate

a journey or a period of time spent moving upward.

an instance of ascending, or a route that requires upward movement.

Example

It was a long, difficult climb to the top of the hill, but the view was worth it.

Example

The final climb to the summit proved exhausting for the amateur expedition, as the thinning air made every step a struggle.
- ascent
- hike
- descent

Origin

From Middle English climben, from Old English climban (“to climb”), from Proto-West Germanic klimban, from Proto-Germanic klimbaną (“to climb, go up by clinging”), believed to be a nasalised variant of Proto-Germanic klibaną, klibāną (“to stick, cleave”), from Proto-Indo-European *gley- (“to stick”). Cognate with West Frisian klimme (“to climb”), Dutch klimmen (“to climb”), German klimmen (“to climb”), Old Norse klembra (“to squeeze”), Icelandic klifra (“to climb”). Related to clamber. See also clay, glue.

Word family

Verbclimb
Nounclimber

Idioms4 entries