Word Study
cling
CIDE DICTIONARY
cling, v. i. [AS. clingan to adhere, to wither; akin to Dan. klynge to cluster, crowd. Cf. Clump.].
To adhere closely; to stick; to hold fast, especially by twining round or embracing; as, the tendril of a vine clings to its support; -- usually followed by to or together. [1913 Webster]
"And what hath life for thee
That thou shouldst cling to it thus?" [1913 Webster]
That thou shouldst cling to it thus?" [1913 Webster]
cling, v. t.
- To cause to adhere to, especially by twining round or embracing. [1913 Webster]"I clung legs as close to his side as I could." [1913 Webster]
- To make to dry up or wither. [1913 Webster]"If thou speak'st false,
Upon the next tree shalt thou hang alive,
Till famine cling thee." [1913 Webster]
cling, n.
Adherence; attachment; devotion. [1913 Webster]
"A more tenacious cling to worldly respects." [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
cling, v. & n.
--v.intr. (past and past part. clung)
1 (foll. by to) adhere, stick, or hold on (by means of stickiness, suction, grasping, or embracing).
2 (foll. by to) remain persistently or stubbornly faithful (to a friend, habit, idea, etc.).
3 maintain one's grasp; keep hold; resist separation.
--n. = CLINGSTONE.
--v.intr. (past and past part. clung)
1 (foll. by to) adhere, stick, or hold on (by means of stickiness, suction, grasping, or embracing).
2 (foll. by to) remain persistently or stubbornly faithful (to a friend, habit, idea, etc.).
3 maintain one's grasp; keep hold; resist separation.
--n. = CLINGSTONE.
Idiom
cling film a very thin clinging transparent plastic film, used as a covering esp. for food. cling together remain in one body or in contact.
Derivative
clinger n. clingingly adv.
Etymology
OE clingan f. Gmc: cf. CLENCH
THESAURUS
cling
accretion, adhere, adhere to, adherence, adhesion, agglomerate, agglomeration, agglutination, attach, bear hug, bite, bond, bunch, cherish, clamp, clasp, cleave, cleave to, clench, clinch, cling to, clinging, clip, clot, clotting, cluster, clustering, clutch, coagulate, coagulation, cohere, coherence, cohesion, cohesiveness, compaction, concretion, condensation, congeal, congealment, congelation, conglobation, conglomerate, conglomeration, consolidation, death grip, embrace, fasten, favor, firm hold, fix, foothold, footing, freeze to, grapple, grasp, grip, gripe, grow together, hang on, hang on to, hang together, hold, hold fast, hold on, hold on to, hold tight, hold together, hug, inseparability, iron grip, junction, keep, keep hold of, mass, never let go, nip, persist, purchase, retain, seizure, set, solidification, solidify, stay, stay put, stick, stick to, stick together, sticking, take hold of, tight grip, toeholdROGET THESAURUS
cling
Coherence
VB cohere, adhere, stick, cling, cleave, hold, take hold of, hold fast, close with, clasp, hug, grow together, hang together, twine round, stick like a leech, stick like wax, stick close, cling like ivy, cling like a bur, adhere like a remora, adhere like Dejanira's shirt, glue, agglutinate, conglutinate, cement, lute, paste, gum, solder, weld, cake, consolidate, agglomerate.For further exploring for "cling" in Webster Dictionary Online
