climb

I UK [klaɪm] / US verb
Word forms "climb":
present tense I/you/we/they climb he/she/it climbs present participle climbing past tense climbed past participle climbed
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1)

a) [intransitive/transitive] to use your hands and feet to move up, over, down, or across something

He climbed onto the roof to check the TV aerial.

We escaped by climbing through a window.

The barbed wire is to stop people climbing over the fence.

climb a ladder/tree/wall:

He climbed the ladder to get onto the roof.

b) to use your hands and feet to move up cliffs or mountains as a sport

She was the third woman to climb Mount Everest.

go climbing:

If you go climbing you need the right boots.

2)

a) [intransitive/transitive] to walk to the top of something high

We left the road and climbed the hill towards the wood.

b) to walk to the top of some steps or stairs

They had to climb ten flights of stairs because the lift was broken.

3) [intransitive] if a temperature, price, or the level of something climbs, it becomes higher

Temperatures climbed into the 90s.

Their profits climbed from £20 million to £50 million last year.

climb steadily:

Unemployment has climbed steadily over the past year.

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Collocations:
Adverbs frequently used with climb
▪  rapidly, steadily, steeply

4) [intransitive] to get into or out of something, especially by stepping to a higher or lower position

Sara yawned as she climbed wearily into bed.

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Collocations:
Adverbs frequently used with climb
▪  laboriously, stiffly, wearily

5)

a) [intransitive] if an aircraft climbs, it moves up to a higher position in the air

The plane climbed to an altitude of 60,000 feet.

b) if a road or path climbs, it leads upwards gradually to a higher place

6)

a) [intransitive/transitive] to move to a higher level in your job or social position

people who climb to the top of their profession

climb the career/social ladder:

He began working at eighteen, determined to climb the career ladder.

b) to achieve a high position in a list or competition

climb to:

The book climbed steadily to number one on the New York Times bestseller list.

7) [intransitive] if a plant climbs up or over something, it grows up it

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- climbing the walls

Phrasal verbs:

- climb down

II UK [klaɪm] / US noun [countable, usually singular] *

1) a gradual movement to a higher position by someone who is walking or climbing

climb up:

The trip includes a climb up the dormant volcano.

a) a gradual movement to a higher position by an aircraft or vehicle

The plane began a steep climb to 27,000 feet.

b) a distance that you have to climb to get somewhere

The summit is only a short climb from here.

2) an increase in temperature, or in the price or level of something

We left before the temperature began its daily climb to 30 degrees.

3) the process of moving to a higher level in your job or social position

her climb from relative obscurity to international stardom