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| Language: | Old English |
| Origin: | clingan |
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cling
past tense and past participle clung
[intransitive]
past tense and past participle clung [intransitive]1 [always + adverb/preposition] to hold someone or something tightly, especially because you do not feel safe
cling to/on/at etc 
He wailed and clung to his mother.Passengers clung desperately onto the lifeboats.
He wailed and clung to his mother.Passengers clung desperately onto the lifeboats.2 [always + adverb/preposition] to stick to someone or something, or seem to surround them
cling to/around etc His wet shirt clung to his body. The smell of cigarette smoke clung to her clothes.
His wet shirt clung to his body.The smell of cigarette smoke clung to her clothes.3 to stay close to someone all the time because you are too dependent on them or do not feel safe - used to show disapproval : Some children tend to cling on their first day at school. a less clinging wife
Some children tend to cling on their first day at school.a less clinging wifecling on
phrasal verbOther businesses cling on and hope.cling to something
phrasal verb1 to continue to believe or do something, even though it may not be true or useful any longer
2 to stay in a position of power or stay ahead, when this is difficult, or to try to do this : an attempt to cling to power
an attempt to cling to power
