4 VERB When someone climaxes , they have an orgasm. □ [V ] Often, a man can enjoy making love but may not be sufficiently aroused to climax.
climb ◆◇◇ /kla I m/ (climbs , climbing , climbed )
1 VERB If you climb something such as a tree, mountain, or ladder, or climb up it, you move towards the top of it. If you climb down it, you move towards the bottom of it. □ [V n] He picked up his suitcase and climbed the stairs. □ [V + up ] I told her about him climbing up the drainpipe. □ [V + down ] Kelly climbed down the ladder into the water. □ [V ] Children love to climb. ● N‑COUNT Climb is also a noun. □ …an hour's leisurely climb through olive groves and vineyards.
2 VERB If you climb somewhere, you move there carefully, for example because you are moving into a small space or trying to avoid falling. □ [V prep/adv] The girls hurried outside, climbed into the car, and drove off. □ [V prep/adv] He must have climbed out of his cot.
3 VERB When something such as an aeroplane climbs , it moves upwards to a higher position. When the sun climbs , it moves higher in the sky. □ [V ] The plane continued to climb until it reached its cruising altitude. [Also V prep]
4 VERB When something climbs , it increases in value or amount. □ [V ] The nation's unemployment rate has been climbing steadily since last June. □ [V + by ] Prices have climbed by 21% since the beginning of the year. □ [V + to/from ] The FA Cup Final's audience climbed to 12.3 million. □ [V amount] Jaguar shares climbed 43 pence to 510 pence.
5 → see also climbing
6 a mountain to climb → see mountain
▸ climb down PHRASAL VERB If you climb down in an argument or dispute, you admit that you are wrong, or change your intentions or demands. □ [V P ] If Lafontaine is forced to climb down, he may wish to reconsider his position. □ [V P + on/over ] He has climbed down on pledges to reduce capital gains tax. SYNONYMS climb VERB
1
ascend: Then we ascend steeply through forests of rhododendron.
scale: …Rebecca Stephens, the first British woman to scale Everest.
mount: Llewelyn was mounting the stairs up into the keep.
clamber: They clambered up the stone walls of a steeply terraced olive grove.
4
increase: The population continues to increase.
mount: The decibel level was mounting.
go up: Interest rates went up.
rise: Pre-tax profits rose from £842,000 to £1.82m. COLLOCATIONS climb VERB
1
climb + noun : ladder, stairs, steps; hill, mountain; fence, wall
4
climb + adverb : rapidly, sharply, steeply; gradually, slowly; steadily NOUN 1
adjective + climb : steep, stiff; arduous, strenuous; slow, steady; uphill, upward
cli mb-down (climb-downs ) also climbdown N‑COUNT A climb-down in an argument or dispute is the act of admitting that you are wrong or of changing your intentions or demands. □ The government was forced into a humiliating climb-down.
climb|er /kla I mə r / (climbers )
1 N‑COUNT A climber is someone who climbs rocks or mountains as a sport or a hobby.
2 N‑COUNT A climber is a plant that grows upwards by attaching itself to other plants or objects.
climb|ing /kla I m I ŋ/
1 N‑UNCOUNT Climbing is the activity of climbing rocks or mountains.
2 → see also climb , rock climbing , social climbing
cli mb|ing frame (climbing frames ) N‑COUNT A climbing frame is a structure that has been made for children to climb and play on. It consists of metal or wooden bars joined together. [BRIT ] in AM, use jungle gym
clime /kla I m/ (climes ) N‑COUNT [usu pl, usu adj N ] You use clime in expressions such as warmer climes and foreign climes to refer to a place that has a particular kind of climate. [LITERARY ] □ [+ of ] He left Britain for the sunnier climes of Southern France.
clinch /kl I ntʃ/ (clinches , clinching , clinched )
1 VERB If you clinch something you are trying to achieve, such as a business deal or victory in a contest, you succeed in obtaining it. □ [V n] Hibernian clinched the First Division title when they beat Hamilton 2–0. □ [V n + with ] This has fuelled speculation that he is about to clinch a deal with an American engine manufacturer.
2 VERB The thing that clinches an uncertain matter settles it or provides a definite answer. □ [V n] Evidently this information clinched the matter. □ [V it ] That was the clue which clinched it for us.
clinch|er /kl I ntʃə r / (clinchers ) N‑COUNT A clincher is a fact or argument that finally proves something, settles a dispute, or helps someone achieve a victory. [INFORMAL ] □ DNA fingerprinting has proved the clincher in this investigation. □ The clincher was City's second goal, scored minutes from the end.
cling /kl I ŋ/ (clings , clinging , clung )
1 VERB If you cling to someone or something, you hold onto them tightly. □ [V + to/onto ] Another man was rescued as he clung to the riverbank. □ [V + together ] They hugged each other, clinging together under the lights.