Climbing

Part of speech: verb, noun

Pronunciation: /ˈklaɪ̯mɪŋ/

Definitions

1. The act of moving upward on a surface like a rock or wall ; the practice or sport of scaling natural or artificial structures using hands and feet
2. Ascending by gripping and stepping on holds to reach a higher position ; participation in an activity involving climbing trees, rocks, or mountains for recreation or exercise
3. The motion of going up a steep incline or structure ; the outdoor or indoor sport involving climbing techniques and equipment to navigate vertical or near-vertical terrains

Etymology: The word "climbing" is about as transparent as English gets: it is simply "climb" with the suffix "-ing," which turns a verb into a noun or a participle. The verb it grows from has a more tangled past. "Climb" descends from Old English "climban," but its spelling and sound shifted over centuries, and the older form survives in the "b" that English writers kept long after it had stopped being pronounced. The "-ing" ending is the interesting part of the story. In Middle English it appeared in forms like "clymbyng" and "clymbynge," showing how spelling was still settling as the language reshaped itself. Because the suffix is so productive, English speakers can attach it almost automatically to any action verb, which is why "climbing" feels so natural even though it is simply two ordinary pieces joined together.

Synonyms: ascending, scaling, mountaineering, scrambling, rock climbing

Antonyms: descending, falling, dropping, plummeting, declining