climber

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A person who climbs mountains or rocks, often as a sport.

   The climbers reached the summit just before nightfall.

2. 2
   noun

   A plant that grows upward by gripping a wall, fence, or other support.

   Ivy and other climbers covered the old garden wall.

3. 3
   noun

   A person who tries to gain a higher social position through flattery.

   Everyone saw him as an ambitious social climber.

From Middle English clymbere, clymber (“one who climbs, climber”), from climben (“to climb; to ascend, fly upward, rise; to slope upwards; to approach God in prayer; to advance; to overcome, triumph; to aspire; to be presumptuous”) + -er, -ere (suffix forming agent nouns). The English word is analysable as climb (verb) + -er (suffix forming agent nouns).

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