verb / noun
cling
KLING/klɪŋ/
To hold tightly and resist separation.
The young koala clings to its mother's back with all four limbs.
Etymology
The ancestor already meant holding fast or adhering closely, alongside congealing and shriveling. The modern sense continues the attachment meaning, which became dominant in Middle English.
In context
feet cling to the rock with their four crooked toes
More examples
- He clung to the hope that help would arrive.
- Static cling made the skirt stick to her tights.
- The child clung to his father's hand in the crowd.
Forms
cling · clings · clung · clinging
Similar words
- hold
- A general grasp, while cling emphasizes tenacious attachment.