Part 289

Cli`ma*to*log"ic*al (?), a. Of or pertaining to climatology.

Cli`ma*tol"o*gist (?), n. One versed in, or who studies, climatology.

Cli`ma*tol"o*gy (?), n. [Climate + -logy: cf. F. climatologie.] The science which treats of climates and investigates their phenomena and causes. Brande & C.

Cli"ma*ture (?; 135), n. [Cf. F. climature.] A climate. [Obs.] Shak.

Cli"max (?), n. [L., from Gr. &?; ladder, staircase, fr. &?; to make to bend, to lean. See Ladder, Lean, v. i.] 1. Upward movement; steady increase; gradation; ascent. Glanvill.

2. (Rhet.) A figure in which the parts of a sentence or paragraph are so arranged that each succeeding one rises above its predecessor in impressiveness.

"Tribulation worketh patience, patience experience, and experience hope" -- a happy climax. J. D. Forbes.

3. The highest point; the greatest degree.

We must look higher for the climax of earthly good. I. Taylor.

To cap the climax, to surpass everything, as in excellence or in absurdity. [Colloq.]

Climb (klīm), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Climbed (klīmd), Obs. or Vulgar Clomb (kl&obreve;m); p. pr. & vb. n. Climbing.] [AS. climban; akin to OHG. chlimban, G. & D. klimmen, Icel. klīfa, and E. cleave to adhere.] 1. To ascend or mount laboriously, esp. by use of the hands and feet.

2. To ascend as if with effort; to rise to a higher point.

Black vapors climb aloft, and cloud the day. Dryden.

3. (Bot.) To ascend or creep upward by twining about a support, or by attaching itself by tendrils, rootlets, etc., to a support or upright surface.

Climb, v. t. To ascend, as by means of the hands and feet, or laboriously or slowly; to mount.

Climb, n. The act of one who climbs; ascent by climbing. Warburton.

Climb"a*ble (?), a. Capable of being climbed.

Climb"er (?), n. One who, or that which, climbs: (a) (Bot.) A plant that climbs. (b) (Zo÷l.) A bird that climbs, as a woodpecker or a parrot.

Climb"er, v. i. [From Climb; cf. Clamber.] To climb; to mount with effort; to clamber. [Obs.] Tusser.

Climb"ing, p. pr. & vb. n. of Climb.

Climbing fern. See under Fern. -- Climbing perch. (Zo÷l.) See Anabas, and Labyrinthici.

Clime (?), n. [L. clima. See Climate.] A climate; a tract or region of the earth. See Climate.

Turn we to sutvey, Where rougher climes a nobler race display. Goldsmith.

||Cli*nan"thi*um (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; bed + &?; flower.] (Bot.) The receptacle of the flowers in a composite plant; -- also called clinium.

Clinch (kl&ibreve;nch; 224), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Clinched (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Clinching.] [OE. clenchen, prop. causative of clink to cause to clink, to strike; cf. D. klinken to tinkle, rivet. See Clink.] 1. To hold firmly; to hold fast by grasping or embracing tightly. "Clinch the pointed spear." Dryden.

2. To set closely together; to close tightly; as, to clinch the teeth or the first. Swift.

3. To bend or turn over the point of (something that has been driven through an object), so that it will hold fast; as, to clinch a nail.

4. To make conclusive; to confirm; to establish; as, to clinch an argument. South.