Definition of the word cling

Pronunciation of vocabulary cling

clingverb
bám
/klɪŋ//klɪŋ/

Origin of the word cling

The word "cling" has an Old English origin. In Anglo-Saxon times, the word "clingen" meant "to be attached or joined" and was related to the Old English word "clífe", meaning "a slope" or "a cliff". This sense of being attached or clinging to something was likely developed from the idea of something sticking to or being attached to a slope or cliff. Over time, the meaning of "cling" expanded to include the idea of holding tight to something, often in a physical sense. This could be a person holding onto something for support, or an object stuck to another object. In modern English, "cling" is often used in idiomatic expressions such as "to cling to someone" (to hold onto them for emotional support) or "to cling to something" (to hold onto it tightly).

Vocabulary summary cling

type intransitive verb clung

meaning cling to, stick to, cling to

example wet clothes cling to the body

example clinging dress: tight-fitting clothes

meaning (figurative) cling to; be loyal (to); keep forever

example to cling to one's friend

example to cling to one's habit

example to cling to an idea

meaning hold on tight, hold on tight

Example of vocabulary clingnamespace

to hold on tightly to somebody/something

giữ chặt ai/cái gì đó

survivors clinging to a raft
những người sống sót bám vào một chiếc bè
Leaves still clung to the branches.
Lá vẫn bám vào cành.
She clung on to her baby.
Cô bám chặt vào đứa con của mình.
Cling on tight!
Bám chặt vào!
They clung together, shivering with cold.
Họ ôm nhau run rẩy vì lạnh.

Extra examples:

I clung closely to my mother's arm.
Tôi bám chặt vào cánh tay mẹ.
She clung fiercely to him.
Cô bám chặt lấy anh.
She clung onto my arm.
Cô ấy bám chặt vào cánh tay tôi.
The children clung together in fear.
Bọn trẻ sợ hãi bám chặt vào nhau.
houses clinging precariously to sheer cliffs
những ngôi nhà bám bấp bênh vào vách đá dựng đứng

to stick to something

dính vào cái gì đó

a dress that clings (= fits closely and shows the shape of your body)
một chiếc váy bám vào (= vừa khít và cho thấy hình dáng cơ thể của bạn)
The wet shirt clung to his chest.
Chiếc áo ướt dính chặt vào ngực anh.
The smell of smoke still clung to her clothes.
Mùi khói vẫn bám vào quần áo cô.
Her hair clung to her hot damp skin.
Mái tóc cô dính chặt vào làn da ẩm ướt nóng bỏng.

to stay close to somebody, especially because you need them emotionally

ở gần ai đó, đặc biệt là vì bạn cần họ về mặt tình cảm