climb
♦ climb /kl'aɪm/ (climbs climbing climbed)
1 [VERB] V n, V up n, V down n, V, also V up/down
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.
He picked up his suitcase and climbed the stairs...
I told her about him climbing up the drainpipe...
Kelly climbed down the ladder into the water...
Children love to climb.
[N-COUNT] oft N prep
Climb is also a noun.
...an hour's leisurely climb through olive groves and vineyards.
2 [VERB] V prep/adv, V prep/adv
If you climb somewhere, you move there carefully, for example because you are moving into a small space or trying to avoid falling.
The girls hurried outside, climbed into the car, and drove off...
He must have climbed out of his cot...
3 [VERB] V, also V prep
When something such as an aeroplane climbs, it moves upwards to a higher position. When the sun climbs, it moves higher in the sky.
The plane took off for LA, lost an engine as it climbed, and crashed just off the runway.
= rise
4 [VERB] V, V by amount, V to/from amount, V amount
When something climbs, it increases in value or amount.
The nation's unemployment rate has been climbing steadily since last June...
Prices have climbed by 21% since the beginning of the year...
The FA Cup Final's audience climbed to 12.3 million...
Jaguar shares climbed 43 pence to 510 pence.
5
a mountain to climb: see mountain
see also climbingclimb down
[PHRASAL VERB] V P, V P on/over n
If you climb down in an argument or dispute, you admit that you are wrong, or change your intentions or demands.
If Lafontaine is forced to climb down, he may wish to reconsider his position...
He has climbed down on pledges to reduce capital gains tax.
= back down
1 [VERB] V n, V up n, V down n, V, also V up/down
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.
He picked up his suitcase and climbed the stairs...
I told her about him climbing up the drainpipe...
Kelly climbed down the ladder into the water...
Children love to climb.
[N-COUNT] oft N prep
Climb is also a noun.
...an hour's leisurely climb through olive groves and vineyards.
2 [VERB] V prep/adv, V prep/adv
If you climb somewhere, you move there carefully, for example because you are moving into a small space or trying to avoid falling.
The girls hurried outside, climbed into the car, and drove off...
He must have climbed out of his cot...
3 [VERB] V, also V prep
When something such as an aeroplane climbs, it moves upwards to a higher position. When the sun climbs, it moves higher in the sky.
The plane took off for LA, lost an engine as it climbed, and crashed just off the runway.
= rise
4 [VERB] V, V by amount, V to/from amount, V amount
When something climbs, it increases in value or amount.
The nation's unemployment rate has been climbing steadily since last June...
Prices have climbed by 21% since the beginning of the year...
The FA Cup Final's audience climbed to 12.3 million...
Jaguar shares climbed 43 pence to 510 pence.
5
a mountain to climb: see mountain
see also climbingclimb down
[PHRASAL VERB] V P, V P on/over n
If you climb down in an argument or dispute, you admit that you are wrong, or change your intentions or demands.
If Lafontaine is forced to climb down, he may wish to reconsider his position...
He has climbed down on pledges to reduce capital gains tax.
= back down