English Explanatory Dictionary

cling

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Fruit (especially peach) whose flesh adheres strongly to the pit.
  2. Adherence; attachment; devotion.
  3. An ornament that clings to a window so as to be seen from outside.
verb
  1. To hold very tightly, as to not fall off.
  2. To adhere to an object, without being affixed, in such a way as to follow its contours. Used especially of fabrics and films.
  3. To cause to adhere to, especially by twining round or embracing.
  4. To cause to dry up or wither.
  5. To dry up or wither.
  6. To be fond of, to feel strongly about and dependent on.
verb
  1. To produce a high-pitched ringing sound, like a small bell.
intj
  1. Imitative of a high-pitched ringing sound.

Pronunciation

/ˈklɪŋ/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-cling.wav

Word forms

cling clings clinging clung clinged clong

Etymology

From Middle English clingen, from Old English clingan (“to adhere”), from Proto-West Germanic *klingan, from Proto-Germanic *klinganą. Cognate with Danish klynge (“to cluster, to crowd”). Compare clump.

Synonyms

cling-on clinch grip beclasp begrasp begrip belock clasp clench cling clutch enclasp fang fondle glaum grab grabble grasp hang on hold on hold tight hold nab nim seize stranglehold take cleave stick adhere attach bond cohere conglutinate glue hug stick together stick with

Derived words

cling peach clingstone static cling anticling clinger cling film clingfilm clingfish clinging vine cling on clingsome cling to cling to the skirts of cling-wrap cling wrap clingwrap clingy noncling uncling
This entry uses open data from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA/GFDL). Word forms are used for search and are not indexed as separate pages.
Back to search All on C Russian dictionary Dahl dictionary