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climb

(klīm)

v. climbed, climb·ing, climbs

v.intr.

a. To move upward, especially by using the hands and feet: We climbed until we reached the shelter. The truck climbed the mountain highway.

b. To move in a specified direction by using the hands and feet: climbed down the ladder; climbed out the window.

c. To engage in the activity or sport of mountain climbing.

2. To rise slowly or steadily; ascend: The plane climbed into the clouds. See Synonyms at rise.

3. To slant or slope upward: The road climbs steeply to the top.

4. To grow in an upward direction, as some plants do, often by means of twining stems or tendrils.

v.tr.

1. To move upward on or mount, especially by using the hands and feet or the feet alone; ascend: The hikers climbed the mountain. We climbed the stairs. The tractor climbed the hill.

2. To grow in an upward direction on or over: ivy climbing the walls.

1. An act of climbing; an ascent: a long, exhausting climb to the top.

2. A place to be climbed: The face of the cliff was a steep climb.

Idiom:

climb the walls

To be anxious or frantic.

[Middle English climben, from Old English climban.]

climba·ble (klīmə-bəl) adj.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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