climbing
KLEYE-mihng
Climbing (noun) means the sport or activity of ascending rock, walls, or mountains using holds, often with ropes for safety. Example: “Climbing teaches you to trust your rope and your partner.”
noun
1
The sport or activity of ascending rock, walls, or mountains using holds, often with ropes for safety.
"The next day, the team had to wear special ice climbing footwear while repairing other research devices on the glacier."
"Climbing teaches you to trust your rope and your partner."
"We spent the weekend climbing in the hills with a local guide."
"She took up climbing after visiting an indoor climbing gym."
adj
1
Growing or moving upward by gripping a surface or support.
"A climbing rose covered the whole wall of the cottage."
"Beans are climbing plants, so give them tall canes to grip."
"The climbing plant wound its way up the fence."
How to use climbing
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe activity of going up something using your hands and feet, or (as an adjective) describing a plant that grows upward.
Common pairings
rock climbing
climbing gear
climbing plant
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Word forms
- Plural
- climbings
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____ teaches you to trust your rope and your partner.
Etymology
Comes from Middle English clymbyng or clymbynge, equivalent to climb plus -ing.
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “climbing” mean?
The word “climbing” means the sport or activity of ascending rock, walls, or mountains using holds, often with ropes for safety. In plain terms, the activity of going up something using your hands and feet, or (as an adjective) describing a plant that grows upward.
How do you pronounce “climbing”?
“Climbing” is pronounced KLEYE-mihng (/ˈklaɪ̯mɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “climbing” in a sentence?
Here is “climbing” used in a sentence: “She took up climbing after visiting an indoor climbing gym.”
What part of speech is “climbing”?
Depending on how it is used, “climbing” can be a noun and an adjective.
Is “climbing” a common word?
“Climbing” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “climbing” have?
“Climbing” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the sport or activity of ascending rock, walls, or mountains using holds, often with ropes for safety.
What is the difference between climbing and mountaineering?
Climbing broadly means ascending rock, walls, or mountains using holds, often with ropes for safety, and includes gym and single-pitch routes. Mountaineering specifically refers to reaching the summit of a mountain, usually combining climbing with hiking, snow travel, and altitude challenges over longer expeditions.
When should you use climbing as an adjective versus a noun?
As a noun, climbing names the sport or activity itself, as in "climbing is her favourite hobby." As an adjective, it describes something that grows or moves upward by gripping a surface, as in "a climbing plant" or "a climbing vine."
What are common collocations with the word climbing?
Climbing frequently pairs with words describing the surface or style, such as "rock climbing," "wall climbing," "mountain climbing," and "indoor climbing." It also combines with equipment terms like "climbing rope," "climbing gear," and "climbing shoes."
