cling

Formsclings, clinging, clung

Pluralclings (some meanings)

1. 1
   verbintransitive

   To hold on to something very tightly so that you do not fall off or let go.

   Like a koala holding tightly onto a tree so it does not fall.

   Baby monkeys cling to their mothers as they move through the trees.

   She clung to the rail when the bus turned sharply.

   Similargrip, hold, grasp, grab, clutch

   Note
2. 2
   verbintransitive

   To stick close to something and follow its shape, without any glue, the way wet cloth or plastic wrap does.

   Like a wet leaf sticking flat to a car window.

   Wet clothes cling to your skin after you swim.

   The plastic wrap clung to the sides of the bowl.

   Similarstick, adhere, attach, cleave, cohere

3. 3
   verbfigurativelyintransitive

   To love or need someone or something so much that you cannot let go.

   Like holding on to an old toy that you do not want to give away.

   Even as adults, the brothers cling to their mother's old recipes.

   He still clings to the hope that his team can win.

   Similarstick, hold

   Note
4. 4
   verbtransitive

   To make something hold tightly to another thing, often by wrapping it around or hugging.

   Similarstick, adhere, attach, cleave, cohere

   Note
5. 5
   noununcountable

   A tight hold on something, or a strong feeling of love and need.

   The cling of wet sand to her feet made walking hard.

   Even after moving away, he never lost his cling to home.

   Similaradherence, attachment, devotion, grip

   Note
6. 6
   nouncountable or uncountable

   A peach or similar fruit whose soft inside sticks tightly to the seed.

   Most canned peaches are cling, so the fruit stays firm in the can.

   It is hard to cut cling away from the pit with a knife.

   Similarclingstone

   Oppositefreestone

   Note
7. 7
   nouncountable

   A thin picture or shape that sticks to a window without glue so people outside can see it.

   Mom put a snowflake cling on the kitchen window for winter.

   The bakery's door has a big sale cling facing the street.

   Note
8. 8
   verbintransitive

   To make a high, light ringing sound, like a small bell.

   The little bells on the cat's collar cling when it jumps.

   The bell above the shop door clings each time a customer walks in.

   Similarring, tinkle, jingle, chime, ding

   Note
9. 9
   interjection

   A sound you say or write to copy the high ring of a small bell.

   Cling! The kitchen timer told us the cake was ready.

   Cling, cling! The ice cream cart was coming down the street.

   Similarting

10. 10
    verbintransitive

    To dry up and waste away, like a plant without water.
11. 11
    verbtransitive

    To make something dry up and waste away.

    If thou speak'st false, / Upon the next tree shalt thou hang alive, / Till famine cling thee.

    c. 1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”Here, cling means to dry up or shrivel, so hunger will wither him.

    Note

Showing meanings only. Show all 11