Linger vs Cling - What's the difference?
linger | cling |
To stay or remain in a place or situation, especially as if unwilling to depart or not easily able to do so.
* 1859 , , A Tale of Two Cities , ch. 15:
* 1891 , , "Mrs. Manstey's View":
* 2011 April 25, Alice Park, "
To remain alive or existent although still proceeding toward death or extinction; to die gradually.
* 1887 , , The Woodlanders , ch. 14:
* 1904 , , "Asmund and Signy" in The Brown Fairy Book :
(often followed by on) To consider or contemplate for a period of time; to engage in analytical thinking or discussion.
* 2011 April 14, Michael Scherer, "
Fruit (especially peach) whose flesh adheres strongly to the pit.
* 1908 , , Hostages to Momus :
adherence; attachment; devotion
* Milton
(senseid)To hold very tightly, as to not fall off.
* Mrs. Hemans
To adhere to an object, without being affixed, in such a way as to follow its contours. Used especially of fabrics and films.
To cause to adhere to, especially by twining round or embracing.
* Jonathan Swift
To cause to dry up or wither.
* Shakespeare
(figurative, with preposition to) to be fond of, to feel strongly about
In lang=en terms the difference between linger and cling
is that linger is to remain alive or existent although still proceeding toward death or extinction; to die gradually while cling is to cause to dry up or wither.As verbs the difference between linger and cling
is that linger is to stay or remain in a place or situation, especially as if unwilling to depart or not easily able to do so while cling is (senseid)to hold very tightly, as to not fall off.As a noun cling is
fruit (especially peach) whose flesh adheres strongly to the pit.linger
English
Verb
(en verb)- His tone lingered in the air, almost like the tone of a musical instrument.
- She lingered in the window.
Upgrading the Disaster," Time :
- It takes into account . . . predictions of how long radioactive contaminants will linger in the soil and water near the nuclear facility.
- He lingered through the day, and died that evening as the sun went down.
- During his absence the queen fell ill, and after lingering for some time she died.
Trump's Political Reality Show: Will the Donald Really Run for President?," Time :
- Trump doesn't linger on the poll.
Derived terms
* lingerer * linger oncling
English
Noun
(en noun)- Antelope steaks and fried liver to begin on, and venison cutlets with chili con carne and pineapple fritters, and then some sardines and mixed pickles; and top it off with a can of yellow clings and a bottle of beer.
- A more tenacious cling to worldly respects.
Verb
- Seaweed clung to the anchor.
- And what hath life for thee / That thou shouldst cling to it thus?
- I clung legs as close to his side as I could.
- If thou speak'st false, / Upon the next tree shalt thou hang alive, / Till famine cling thee.