klaɪm v. & n. --v. 1 tr. & intr. (often foll. by up)
ascend, mount, go or
come up,
esp. by using one's hands. 2 intr. (of a plant)
grow up a
wall,
tree,
trellis, etc. by clinging
with tendrils or by twining. 3 intr.
make progress from one's
own efforts, esp. in
social rank,
intellectual or
moral strength, etc. 4 intr. (of an
aircraft,
the sun, etc.) go upwards. 5 intr.
slope upwards. --n. 1 an
ascent by climbing. 2 a a
place, esp. a
hill, climbed or to be climbed. b a recognized
route up a
mountain etc. øclimb down 1
descend with the
help of one's hands. 2
withdraw from a
stance taken up in
argument, negotiation, etc. climb-down n.
such a
withdrawal. climbing-frame a
structure of joined bars etc.
for children to climb
on. climbing-iron a set of spikes attachable to a
boot for climbing trees or
ice slopes. øøclimbable adj. [OE climban f. WG, rel. to CLEAVE(2)]