climb / klīm/ • v. 1. [tr.] go or come up (a slope, incline, or staircase), esp. by using the feet and sometimes the hands; ascend: we began to climb the hill [intr.] the air became colder as they climbed higher. ∎  [intr.] (of an aircraft or the sun) go upward. ∎  [intr.] (of a road or track) slope upward or up. ∎  (of a plant) grow up (a wall, tree, or trellis) by clinging with tendrils or by twining: when ivy climbs a wall, it infiltrates any crack | [intr.] there were roses climbing up the walls. ∎  [intr.] grow in scale, value, or power: the stock market climbed 24 points. ∎  move to a higher position in (a chart or table): the song is climbing the adult-contemporary chart.2. [intr. ] move with effort, esp. into or out of a confined space; clamber: I climbed down a narrow ladder. ∎  (climb into) put on (clothes).• n. an ascent, esp. of a mountain or hill, by climbing: the climb up the mountain fig. his climb from poverty. ∎  a mountain, hill, or slope that is climbed or is to be climbed: the mountain is no easy climb. ∎  a recognized route up a mountain or cliff: this may be the hardest rock climb in the world. ∎  an aircraft's flight upward: we leveled out from the climb at 600 feet. ∎  a rise or increase in value, rank, or power.PHRASES: be climbing the walls inf. feel frustrated, helpless, and trapped.DERIVATIVES: climb·a·ble adj.

climb OE. climban (str. vb.) = (M)LG., (M)Du. klimmen, OHG. klimban (G. klimmen) :- WGmc. *klimban, nasalized var. of *kliban (see CLEAVE 2).