cling

== English == === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈklɪŋ/ Rhymes: -ɪŋ === Etymology 1 === From Middle English clingen, from Old English clingan (“to adhere”), from Proto-West Germanic *klingan, from Proto-Germanic *klinganą. Cognate with Danish klynge (“to cluster, to crowd”). Compare clump. ==== Noun ==== cling (countable and uncountable, plural clings) Fruit (especially peach) whose flesh adheres strongly to the pit. Adherence; attachment; devotion. An ornament that clings to a window so as to be seen from outside. Synonym: cling-on ===== Derived terms ===== cling peach clingstone static cling ==== Verb ==== cling (third-person singular simple present clings, present participle clinging, simple past and past participle clung or (nonstandard) clinged or (obsolete) clong) To hold very tightly, as to not fall off. Synonyms: clinch, grip; see also Thesaurus:grasp 2017, Jennifer S. Holland, For These Monkeys, It’s a Fight for Survival., National Geographic (March 2017)[2] Cartoonish, wide-eyed infants cling to their mothers or play together low to the ground. To adhere to an object, without being affixed, in such a way as to follow its contours. Used especially of fabrics and films. Synonyms: cleave, stick; see also Thesaurus:adhere (transitive) To cause to adhere to, especially by twining round or embracing. Synonyms: cleave, stick; see also Thesaurus:adhere (transitive) To cause to dry up or wither. (intransitive) To dry up or wither. (figurative, with preposition to) To be fond of, to feel strongly about and dependent on. ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Translations ===== ==== References ==== William Dwight Whitney, Benjamin Eli Smith, editors (1895–1910), “cling”, in The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia: […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., →OCLC. “cling”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC. === Etymology 2 === Imitative; compare clink, clang. ==== Verb ==== cling (third-person singular simple present clings, present participle clinging, simple past and past participle clinged) To produce a high-pitched ringing sound, like a small bell. ==== Interjection ==== cling Imitative of a high-pitched ringing sound. == Middle English == === Verb === cling alternative form of clingen == Romanian == === Etymology === Onomatopoeic. === Interjection === cling clink