Word Frequency
cling (klɪŋ
)
Definitions
verb
Word forms: clings, clinging, clung
intr- often foll by to to hold fast or adhere closely (to something), as by gripping or sticking
- foll by together to remain in contact (with each other)
- to be or remain physically or emotionally close ⇒
to cling to outmoded beliefs
noun
- (agriculture (mainly US) the tendency of cotton fibres in a sample to stick to each other
- (agriculture, obsolete) diarrhoea or scouring in animals
- short for clingstone
Derived Forms
ˈclinging adjectiveˈclinger noun
ˈclingingly adverb
ˈclingy adjective
ˈclinginess, ˈclingingness noun
Word Origin
Old English clingan; related to clenchTranslations for 'cling'
- British English: cling If you cling to someone or something, you hold onto them tightly. VERBAnother man was rescued as he clung to the riverbank.
- Brazilian Portuguese: agarrar-se
- Chinese: 紧紧抓住紧緊紧緊抓住
- European Spanish: agarrarse
- French: se cramponner
- German: sich klammern an
- Italian: aggrapparsi
- Japanese: しがみつく
- Korean: 매달리다
- Portuguese: agarrar-se
- Spanish: agarrarse
Example Sentences Including 'cling'
But they must be covered with cling film, to prevent the air from reaching the mixture.Glasgow Herald (2001)
I managed to keep up, even though I only just managed to cling on, especially over the fences.The Ambassador's Women
Place on baby's tummy, covering with a square of cling film.Aromatherapy Workbook
Problems arise when partners cling on to their original roles even when their needs have changed.Business Today (1996)
So we cling tightly to their hands and re-enact all the restrictions we'd so reluctantly forced ourselves to let go.Toronto Sun (2003)
Tara stumbled on her high heels and had to cling onto Aaron's jacket to stay upright.JUST BETWEEN US (2002)
The retired roofer tried in vain to cling on by his fingertips.Sun, News of the World (2000)
The sickly smell of alcohol from the floor-to-ceiling racks of bottles was starting to cling to him.Yellow Bird
They cling doggedly to the hope that better days are in store for southern Africa's most bedevilled country.Irish Times (2002)
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