Glossary of climbing terms
for rock climbing, ice climbing and mountaineering
This is a glossary of climbing terms related to rock climbing (including aid climbing, lead climbing, bouldering, and competition climbing), mountaineering, and to ice climbing.
The terms used can vary between different English-speaking countries; many of the phrases described here are particular to the United States and the United Kingdom.
A
A-grade
Also aid climbing grade.
The technical difficulty grading system for aid climbing (both for "original" and an adapted version for "new wave"), which goes: A0, A1, A2, A3, A4, A5 and up to A6 (for "new wave"). See C-grade.
Abalakov thread
Also V-thread.
A type of anchor used in abseiling especially in winter and in ice climbing.
ABD
Also assisted braking device.
A term used to describe a progress capture device or a self-locking device such as a Petzl GriGri that immediately locks if the rope travels through it quickly in a specific direction. See auto belay.
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