A climber is someone who climbs mountains, rocks, or other challenging vertical terrain as a sport or hobby. Climbers use their hands, feet, and sometimes special equipment like ropes and harnesses to scale steep cliffs, frozen waterfalls, or towering peaks. Some climbers tackle indoor climbing walls covered with colorful plastic holds, while others venture onto real rock faces outdoors.

Rock climbing requires both physical strength and mental problem-solving. Before attempting a difficult route, a climber studies the surface, planning which holds to grab and where to place their feet, almost like solving a vertical puzzle. Different types of climbing require different skills: bouldering means climbing shorter walls without ropes, sport climbing uses permanent anchors drilled into the rock, and mountaineering involves multi-day expeditions up massive peaks.

The word can also describe plants that grow upward by wrapping around or attaching to other structures. Ivy is a climber that clings to walls, and morning glories are climbing vines that spiral up fences and trellises.

In another sense, people sometimes use climber negatively to describe someone who pursues success or status by using other people, without caring who gets hurt. You might hear someone called a “social climber” if they only befriend popular or influential people.