climb

 
Pronunciation: /klʌɪm/

verb

  • 1 [with object] go or come up a (slope or staircase); ascend: we began to climb the hill [no object]: the air became colder as they climbed higher he climbed up the steps slowly
  • [no object] (of an aircraft or the sun) go upwards: we decided to climb to 6,000 feet
  • [no object] (of a road or track) slope upwards: the track climbed steeply up a narrow, twisting valley
  • (of a plant) grow up (a wall, tree, or trellis) by clinging with tendrils or by twining: when ivy climbs a wall it infiltrates any crack [no object]: there were roses climbing up the walls
  • [no object] increase in scale, value, or power: deer numbers have been climbing steadily the stock market climbed 23.9 points
  • move to a higher position in (a chart or table): the book climbed to number 18 on the New York Times bestseller list
  • 2 [no object, with adverbial of direction] move with effort, especially into or out of a confined space; clamber: Howard started to climb out of the front seat
  • (climb into) put on (clothes): he climbed into his suit

noun

  • an ascent, especially of a mountain or hill, by climbing: this walk involves a long moorland climb figurative how old will these graduates be before they begin a long climb out of debt?
  • a mountain, hill, or slope that is climbed: he was too full of alcohol to negotiate the climb safely
  • a recognized route up a mountain or cliff: this may be the hardest rock climb in the world
  • an aircraft’s flight upwards: we levelled out from the climb at 600 feet [mass noun]: the rate of climb can be set by the pilot
  • a rise or increase in value, rank, or power: an above-average climb in prices

Phrases

be climbing the walls

informal feel frustrated, helpless, and trapped: his job soon had him climbing the walls

have a mountain to climb

be facing a very difficult task: we have a mountain to climb, but I am looking forward to the challenge

Phrasal Verbs

climb down

British withdraw from a position taken up in argument or negotiation: he was forced to climb down over the central package in the bill

Derivatives

climbable

adjective

Origin:

Old English climban, of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch and German klimmen, also to clay and cleave2