climb

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the act of climbing something

   it was a difficult climb to the top

2. 2
   verb

   to increase in value or to a higher point

   prices climbed steeply

3. 3
   verb

   to improve one's social status

   They know how to climb the social ladder.

4. 4
   verb

   to go up or advance

   Sales were climbing after prices were lowered.

5. 5
   verb

   to go upward with gradual or continuous progress

   Did you ever climb up the hill behind your house?

6. 6
   verb

   to slope upward

   The path climbed all the way to the top of the hill

7. 7
   verb

   To ascend; rise; to go up.

   Prices climbed steeply.

8. 8
   verb

   To mount; to move upwards on.

   climbing a tree

Etymology

From Middle English climben, clymben, 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.