clinging

- 3 dictionary results

cling

1 [kling]

verb, clung, cling⋅ing, noun

–verb (used without object)

1.	to adhere closely; stick to: The wet paper clings to the glass.

2.	to hold tight, as by grasping or embracing; cleave: The children clung to each other in the dark.

3.	to be or remain close: The child clung to her mother's side.

4.	to remain attached, as to an idea, hope, memory, etc.: Despite the predictions, the candidate clung to the belief that he would be elected.

5.	to cohere.

–noun

6.	the act of clinging; adherence; attachment.

Origin:
bef. 900; ME clingen, OE clingan to stick together, shrink, wither; akin to clench

Related forms:

clinger, noun

cling⋅ing⋅ly, adverb

cling⋅ing⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
2. clutch, grab, hug.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
Cite This Source

cling (klĭng)

intr.v. clung (klŭng), cling·ing, clings

To hold fast or adhere to something, as by grasping, sticking, embracing, or entwining: clung to the rope to keep from falling; fabrics that cling to the body.
To remain close; resist separation: We clung together in the storm.
To remain emotionally attached; hold on: clinging to outdated customs.

n. Botany
A clingstone.

[Middle English clingen, from Old English clingan.]
cling'er n., cling'y adj.

Word Origin & History

cling

O.E. clingan "hold fast, congeal, shrivel," shifting 13c. to "adhere, stick together," from P.Gmc. *klingg-.

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