Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Cling
Cling
(klĭng)
, Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Clung
(klŭng)
, Clong
(klŏng), Obs.
); p. pr. & vb. n.
Clinging
.] To adhere closely; to stick; to hold fast, especially by twining round or embracing;
as, the tendril of a vine
; – usually followed by to or together. clings
to its supportAnd what hath life for thee
That thou shouldst
That thou shouldst
cling
to it thus? Mrs. Hemans.
Cling
,Verb.
T.
1.
To cause to adhere to, especially by twining round or embracing.
[Obs.]
I
clung
legs as close to his side as I could. Swift.
2.
To make to dry up or wither.
[Obs.]
If thou speak’st false,
Upon the next tree shalt thou hang alive,
Till famine
Upon the next tree shalt thou hang alive,
Till famine
cling
thee. Shakespeare
Cling
,Noun.
Adherence; attachment; devotion.
[R.]
A more tenacious
cling
to worldly respects. Milton.
Webster 1828 Edition
Cling
CLING
, v.i.1.
To adhere closely; to stick to; to hold fast upon, especially by winding round or embracing; as, the tendril of a vine clings to its support.Two babes of love close clinging to her waist.
2.
To adhere closely; to stick to; as a viscous substance.3.
To adhere closely and firmly, in interest or affection; as, men of a party cling to their leader.CLING
,Verb.
T.
Till famine cling thee.
In Saxon, clingan is rendered to fade or wither, marcesco, as well as to cling. In this sense is used forclingan, pp. forclungen. The radical sense then appears to be, to contract or draw together; and drying, withering, is expressed by shrinking.
Definition 2024
cling
cling
English
Noun
cling (plural clings)
- Fruit (especially peach) whose flesh adheres strongly to the pit.
- 1908, O. Henry, Hostages to Momus:
- Antelope steaks and fried liver to begin on, and venison cutlets with chili con carne and pineapple fritters, and then some sardines and mixed pickles; and top it off with a can of yellow clings and a bottle of beer.
- 1908, O. Henry, Hostages to Momus:
- adherence; attachment; devotion
- Milton
- A more tenacious cling to worldly respects.
- Milton
Verb
cling (third-person singular simple present clings, present participle clinging, simple past and past participle clung)
- To hold very tightly, as to not fall off.
- Seaweed clung to the anchor.
- Mrs. Hemans
- And what hath life for thee / That thou shouldst cling to it thus?
- To adhere to an object, without being affixed, in such a way as to follow its contours. Used especially of fabrics and films.
- (transitive) To cause to adhere to, especially by twining round or embracing.
- Jonathan Swift
- I clung legs as close to his side as I could.
- Jonathan Swift
- (transitive) To cause to dry up or wither.
- Shakespeare
- If thou speak'st false, / Upon the next tree shalt thou hang alive, / Till famine cling thee.
- Shakespeare
- (figuratively, with preposition to) to be fond of, to feel strongly about
Derived terms
Translations
hold tightly
|
|
(figuratively) feel strongly about
References
- cling in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
- cling in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
- Notes:
- ↑ Oxford-Paravia Concise - Dizionario Inglese-Italiano e Italiano-Inglese (in collaborazione con Oxford University Press). Edited by Maria Cristina Bareggi. Torino: Paravia, 2003. ISBN 8839551107. Online version