Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - climb

 I. verb  Etymology: Middle English, from Old English ~an; probably akin to Old English clifian to adhere — more at cleave  Date: before 12th century  intransitive verb  1.  a. to go upward with gradual or continuous progress ; rise, ascend watching the smoke ~  b. to increase gradually prices are continuing to ~  c. to slope upward a ~ing path  2.  a. to go upward or raise oneself especially by grasping or clutching with the hands ~ed aboard the train  b. of a plant to ascend in growth (as by twining)  3. to go about or down usually by grasping or holding with the hands ~ down the ladder  4. to get into or out of clothing usually with some haste or effort the firefighters ~ed into their clothes  transitive verb  1. to go upward on or along, to the top of, or over ~ a hill  2. to draw or pull oneself up, over, or to the top of by using hands and feet children ~ing the tree  3. to grow up or over ivy ~ing the wall  • ~able adjective  II. noun  Date: circa 1587  1. a place where ~ing is necessary to progress  2. the act or an instance of ~ing ; rise, ascent