<B>climbing fern,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a delicate, decorative North American fern. <BR> <I>Ex. The climbing fern is the only native fern that supports itself by climbing low bushes (New York Times).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="climbingfish">
<B>climbing fish,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a fish that can live out of the water, travel some distance on land, and, reputedly, climb trees; climbing perch; anabas. </DL>
<A NAME="climbingiron">
<B>climbing iron,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> one of a pair of frames with spikes, attached to shoes to help in climbing. <BR> <I>Ex. Telephone linemen and loggers often wear climbing irons.</I> </DL>
<A NAME="climbingperch">
<B>climbing perch,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a fish native to Thailand that has prickly spikes on its scales and can crawl on the ground or climb a tree. </DL>
<A NAME="climbingrope">
<B>climbing rope,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a strong rope such as is used in gymnastic or mountain climbing. </DL>
<A NAME="climbout">
<B>climbout, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> the steep ascent of an aircraft during take-off. <BR> <I>Ex. Noise on takeoff will be less offensive because the SST climbout will be steeper and faster (New York Times).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="clime">
<B>clime, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a region or country, especially one having pleasant conditions for living. <BR> <I>Ex. Whatever clime the sun's bright circle warms (Milton).</I> <DD><B> 2. </B><B>=climate.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="climograph">
<B>climograph, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a graph on which climatic factors are plotted. </DL>
<A NAME="clinal">
<B>clinal, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> of or having to do with a cline or the study of clines. </DL>
<A NAME="clinamen">
<B>clinamen, </B>noun, pl. <B>-namina.</B><DL COMPACT><DD> an inclination; bias. </DL>
<A NAME="clinandrium">
<B>clinandrium, </B>noun, pl. <B>-dria.</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a cavity at the apex of the column in orchids in which the anthers rest; androclinium. </DL>
<A NAME="clinch">
<B>clinch, </B>verb, noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>v.t. </I> <B>1a. </B>to fasten (a driven nail or staple or a bolt) firmly by bending over the point that sticks out. <BR> <I>Ex. By clinching the nails over the canvas they held the torn sail to the mast.</I> <DD><B> b. </B>to fasten (things) together in this way. <DD><B> 2. </B>(Figurative.) to fix firmly; settle decisively. <BR> <I>Ex. A deposit of five dollars clinched the bargain. The lawyer clinched his case by introducing new evidence.</I> <DD><B> 3. </B>(Nautical.) to fasten (a rope) by making a half hitch and lashing the end back. <DD><B> 4. </B><B>=clench.</B> <DD><I>v.i. </I> <B>1a. </B>to grasp one another tightly in boxing or wrestling; grapple. <BR> <I>Ex. When the boxers clinched, the crowd booed.</I> <DD><B> b. </B>(Informal.) to embrace as lovers. <DD><B> 2. </B>to fasten a driven nail or staple or a bolt by bending the end. <DD><I>noun </I> <B>1. </B>the act of clinching. <BR> <I>Ex. The clinch of a few nails held the board fast.</I> <DD><B> 2a. </B>a tight grasp in boxing or wrestling; close grip. <BR> <I>Ex. The referee broke the boxers' clinch.</I> <DD><B> b. </B>(Informal.) an embrace by lovers. <DD><B> 3a. </B>a fastening made by bending the end of a driven nail or staple or a bolt. <DD><B> b. </B>a clinched nail, staple, or bolt, or the bent end of it. <DD><B> 4. </B>(Nautical.) a method of fastening the end of a rope by making a half hitch and lashing the end back. <DD><B> 5. </B>a decisive settlement; confirmation. <DD><B> 6. </B>(Obsolete.) a pun. </DL>
<A NAME="clincher">
<B>clincher, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>(Informal.) an argument, statement, or action that is decisive. <DD><B> 2a. </B>a tool for clinching nails, bolts, etc. <DD><B> b. </B>a nail or bolt used for clinching. <DD><B> 3. </B>a person or thing that clinches. <DD><B> 4. </B><B>=clincher tire.</B> </DL>
<B>clincher tire,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a tire with flanges that fit into grooves in the inner and outer edges of the rim so that the tire is locked in position when inflated. </DL>
<A NAME="cline">
<B>cline, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a gradual variation in a particular inherited characteristic found across a series of adjacent populations of a group of related organisms. </DL>
<A NAME="cling">
<B>cling, </B>verb, <B>clung,</B> <B>clinging,</B> noun, adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>v.i. </I> <B>1. </B>to stick or hold fast. <BR> <I>Ex. A vine clings to its support. Wet clothes cling to the body.</I> (SYN) adhere. <DD><B> 2. </B>to grasp; embrace. <BR> <I>Ex. The lost child clung to the policeman.</I> (SYN) clasp. <DD><B> 3. </B>to keep near. <BR> <I>Ex. The clouds cling to the mountains.</I> <DD><B> 4. </B>(Figurative.) to remain attached or stick (to a plan, doctrine, wish, hope, memory). <BR> <I>Ex. He clings to the beliefs of his father.</I> <DD><B> 5. </B>(Figurative.) to persist in thought or memory. <BR> <I>Ex. His mother's last words clung to his memory.</I> <DD><B> 6. </B>(Obsolete.) to cohere. <DD><I>noun </I> <B>1. </B>the act of clinging. (SYN) adherence, attachment. <DD><B> 2. </B><B>=clingstone.</B> <DD><I>adj. </I> <B>=clingstone.</B> <BR> <I>Ex. a cling peach.</I> noun <B>clinger.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="clingfish">
<B>clingfish, </B>noun, pl. <B>-fishes</B> or (collectively) <B>-fish.</B><DL COMPACT><DD> any one of a genus of marine fish having a sucking disk on the ventral side by which it attaches itself to objects. </DL>
<A NAME="clinging">
<B>clinging, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> that clings; that holds fast. adv. <B>clingingly.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="clingingvine">
<B>clinging vine,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a woman who tends to be dependent on a man or a child who is too dependent upon its mother. </DL>
<A NAME="clingpeach">
<B>cling peach,</B> <B>=clingstone.</B></DL>
<A NAME="clingstone">
<B>clingstone, </B>noun, adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>noun </I> <B>1. </B>a peach, plum, or other fruit whose stone clings to the fleshy part. <DD><B> 2. </B>the stone of such fruit. <DD><I>adj. </I> having such a stone. </DL>
<A NAME="clingy">
<B>clingy, </B>adjective, <B>clingier,</B> <B>clingiest.</B><DL COMPACT><DD> apt to cling; adhesive. </DL>
<A NAME="clinic">
<B>clinic, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a place usually connected with a hospital or medical school where people can receive medical treatment, often free or at low cost. <DD><B> 2. </B>a place for medical treatment or study of certain people or diseases. <BR> <I>Ex. a dental clinic. The children's clinic is open during school hours.</I> <DD><B> 3. </B>the practical instruction of medical students by examining or treating patients in the presence of the students. <DD><B> 4. </B>a place where practical instruction in any subject is given. <BR> <I>Ex. a football clinic, a reading clinic.</I> <DD><B> 5. </B>a class of students receiving medical or practical instruction. </DL>
<A NAME="clinical">
<B>clinical, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>of or having to do with a clinic. <BR> <I>Ex. clinical treatment, a clinical center.</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>used or performed in a sickroom, especially in a hospital. <BR> <I>Ex. clinical instruments, a clinical examination.</I> <DD><B> 3. </B>of or having to do with the study of disease by observation of the patient rather than by experiment, autopsy, etc.. <BR> <I>Ex. clinical medicine, a clinical diagnosis. The drug ... is now under clinical tests at several medical centers (Wall Street Journal).</I> <DD><B> 4. </B>involving the use of laboratory methods and equipment. <BR> <I>Ex. clinical pathology, clinical sociology.</I> <DD><B> 5. </B>(Figurative.) coldly objective or impersonal; detached; dispassionate; unemotional. <BR> <I>Ex. a cold clinical tone of voice. ... the intense, almost clinical accuracy with which Hemingway has been able to convey the self's sensations (Alfred Kazin).</I> <DD><B> 6. </B>(Ecclesiastical.) administered on the sickbed or deathbed. <BR> <I>Ex. clinical baptism.</I> </DL>
<A NAME="clinically">
<B>clinically, </B>adverb.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>by clinical methods. <BR> <I>Ex. to examine a patient clinically.</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>(Figurative.) in a clinical manner. <BR> <I>Ex. an unfeeling and clinically detailed account.</I> <DD><B> 3. </B>from a clinical point of view. <BR> <I>Ex. He had been pronounced clinically dead.</I> </DL>
<A NAME="clinicalpsychologist">
<B>clinical psychologist,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a person who practices clinical psychology. </DL>
<A NAME="clinicalpsychology">
<B>clinical psychology,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> the branch of psychology that deals with the psychological problems and adjustment of individuals by the use of psychological tests and psychotherapy and by research in the diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders. </DL>
<A NAME="clinicalthermometer">
<B>clinical thermometer,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a thermometer for measuring the temperature of the body. </DL>
<A NAME="clinician">
<B>clinician, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a physician who practices or teaches clinical medicine. </DL>
<A NAME="clinicopathological">
<B>clinicopathological, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> relating both to the symptoms of disease and to the lesions produced by it. </DL>
<A NAME="clink">
<B>clink</B> (1), noun, verb.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>noun </I> a light, sharp, ringing sound like that of glasses hitting together. <BR> <I>Ex. He heard the clink of glass and the clatter of plates as the dishes were being washed.</I> <DD><I>v.i. </I> to make a clink. <DD><I>v.t. </I> to cause to clink. </DL>
<A NAME="clink">
<B>clink</B> (2), noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> (Informal.) a prison or prison cell; lockup. <BR> <I>Ex. When the cops picked him up for vagrancy, [he] got ten days in the clink (Time).</I> </DL>
<B>clink-clank, </B>noun, verb.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>noun </I> a succession of clinking sounds. <DD><I>v.i. </I> to make such a succession of sounds. </DL>
<A NAME="clinker">
<B>clinker, </B>noun, verb.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>noun </I> <B>1. </B>a large, rough cinder left in a furnace or forge after coal has been burned. <DD><B> 2. </B>a very hard brick. <DD><B> 3. </B>a mass of bricks fused together. <DD><B> 4. </B>the rough, hard waste left after metal is separated from ore by melting; slag. <DD><B> 5. </B><B>=lava.</B> <DD><B> 6. </B>a substance made in a kiln and reground to make portland cement. <DD><B> 7. </B>(Informal, Figurative.) a bad or stupid mistake, or its result. <BR> <I>Ex. Any completely new car is liable to have bugs, particularly at the beginning of a production run, but occasionally the manufacturers produce a real clinker (Maclean's).</I> <DD><I>v.i. </I> to form clinkers in burning. </DL>
