climber

noun

climb·​er ˈklī-mər 

plural climbers

1

a

: a person or animal that climbs

a tree climber

a bicyclist who's an excellent climber

a mountain climber

We also teach how to handle a rope and how to belay another climber to protect them if they fall.

—Lou Whittaker

see also rock climber

b

: a climbing plant

ivy and other climbers

Owing to their size and abundance, climbing plants, especially the large woody climbers or lianes, are one of the most impressive features of the Tropical Rain forest.

—P. W. Richards

2

: social climber

Examples of climber in a Sentence

Chimpanzees are excellent climbers and spend a lot of their lives in trees.

climbers like clematis and ivy

Recent Examples on the Web

To further illustrate, consider climbers who take on Mount Everest. —Joshua Strange, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024

But Honnold has never free climbed the route—a style that allows climbers to use ropes and climbing gear for protection but not to aid the ascent. —Jayme Moye, Outside Online, 9 Dec. 2024

An avid mountain climber and skier, Weiner felt that American westward pull and, after training in hospitals in Pennsylvania and Vermont, took the job at St. Peter’s in 1996. —J. David McSwane, ProPublica, 7 Dec. 2024

The third climber, a Canadian national, has not been named, in keeping with his family's wishes. —Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing climber

• social climber
• stair climber