Meaning of climb In English

• 0 to go up, or to go towards the top of something:

  • The plane climbed quickly to a height of 30,000 feet.

  • As it leaves the village, the road climbs steeply up the mountain.

  • The sun climbed higher in the sky.

  • to climb the stairs/mountain

  • I hate climbing ladders.

  • We're going climbing (= climbing mountains as a sport) in Scotland next weekend.

  • Our costs have climbed rapidly in the last few years.

  • He quickly climbed to the top of his profession.

• 1 to move into or out of a small space awkwardly or with difficulty or effort:

  • They climbed into the truck and drove away.

  • We can't stop Tom climbing out of his cot.

• 2 to grow upwards:

  • There's masses of ivy climbing up/over the walls of our house.

• 3 an act or process of climbing:

  • We were very tired after our climb.

  • The climb down the mountain took longer than the climb up.

  • I've made three climbs so far this year.

  • Her climb to power has been very rapid.

  • The north face of the Eiger is a very difficult climb.

• 4 to go up, or go up something or to the top of something:

  • [ I ] We climbed to the top of the hill, where we had a great view.

  • [ T ] She climbed the stairs to the third floor.

  • [ I ] The plane is still climbing and will level off at 33,000 feet.

  • [ I ] fig. As he climbed the corporate ladder (= moved into better and better positions in business), his salary increased dramatically.

  • [ I ] The cost of goods is climbing.

• 5 to move in a way that uses your arms and legs and often involves careful control over your body:

  • He climbed down from the ladder to get some more paint.

• 6 an act of going up:

  • It was a long, difficult climb to the top of the hill.

• 7 if a price, number, or amount climbs, it increases:

  • costs/prices/rates climb Our costs have climbed rapidly in the last few years.

  • climb steadily/steeply/slowly

• 8 to improve your position at work or in society:

  • He quickly climbed to the top of his profession.

  • climb the housing/promotion/corporate ladder As executives struggle to climb the corporate ladder, they often do not want to say anything that could harm their chances.

• 9 an increase in a price, number, or amount:

  • a climb in sth A sustained climb in interest rates could hit some parts of the housing market harder than others.

• 10 a period of improvement or progress:

  • It's going to be a long, hard climb before we get out of this recession.

  • Her climb to the top of the profession was remarkably quick.