clam ‧ ber /ˈklæmbə $ -ər/ BrE AmE verb [intransitive always + adverb/preposition]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Origin: Perhaps from clamb , old past tense of climb ]
to climb or move slowly somewhere, using your hands and feet because it is difficult or steep
clamber over/across etc
They clambered over the slippery rocks.
We all clambered aboard and the boat pulled out.
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THESAURUS
▪ climb to move up, down, or across something using your hands and feet:
Most kids love climbing trees.
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Several fans climbed onto the roof of the arena to get a better view.
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She climbed down the ladder.
▪ ascend formal to climb up something:
He began to ascend the narrow winding staircase.
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the first man to ascend Mount Everest
▪ go up to climb up something such as a slope or stairs:
He went up the steps to the platform.
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Sonia was quiet as they went up the hill.
▪ scale formal to climb to the top of something such as a high wall or ↑ fence :
Somehow the men had scaled the twenty-foot wall without setting off the alarm.
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Protestors scaled the walls of the building and hung banners.
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Rescuers had to scale a one-thousand-foot cliff before they could reach the injured climber.
▪ clamber to climb somewhere with difficulty, using your hands to help you:
At last we saw the two girls clambering down the slope to safety.
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Everyone clambered onto the back of the truck.
▪ scramble to climb somewhere quickly and with difficulty, using your hands to help you, especially when you are walking:
They scrambled up the steep rocky bank.