Jacob's-ladder

¹ American  

[jey-kuhbz-lad-er] / ˈdʒeɪ kəbzˈlæd ər /

noun

1. any of various plants belonging to the genus Polemonium, of the phlox family, especially P. caeruleum (orP. van-bruntiae ), having blue, cup-shaped flowers and paired leaflets in a ladderlike arrangement.

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Jacob's ladder ² American  

noun

1. (in the Bible) a ladder seen by Jacob in a dream, reaching from the earth to heaven.

2. Nautical.

   1. Also called jack ladder.  Also called pilot ladder.  a hanging ladder having ropes or chains supporting wooden or metal rungs or steps.

   2. any ladderlike arrangement aloft other than one of rattled shrouds.

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Jacob's ladder British  

noun

1. Old Testament the ladder reaching up to heaven that Jacob saw in a dream (Genesis 28:12–17)

2. Also called: jack ladder.  a ladder made of wooden or metal steps supported by ropes or chains

3. a North American polemoniaceous plant, Polemonium caeruleum , with blue flowers and a ladder-like arrangement of leaves

4. any of several similar or related plants

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Jacob's ladder Cultural  

1. A ladder that Jacob saw in a dream. After he had obtained his brother Esau's birthright and received his father's blessing, he had a vision of the angels of God ascending and descending a ladder that extended from Earth to heaven. God, who stood at the top of the ladder, promised to bless Jacob and his offspring and to bring his descendants into the Promised Land. (See Jacob and Esau.)

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Etymology

Origin of Jacob's-ladder¹

First recorded in 1725–35

Origin of Jacob's ladder¹

First recorded in 1840–45 Jacob's ladder for def. 2

Example Sentences

Tim Robbins will speak after screenings of Adrian Lyne’s “Jacob’s Ladder” and Robert Altman’s “The Player.”

From Los Angeles Times

Nearby, tonnes of debris fell near Jacob’s Ladder, prompting East Devon District Council to urge people in a social media post to avoid the cliffs, which it said were "prone to rock falls, and landslides, which can happen at any time".

From BBC

After appearing in “Goodfellas,” she was featured in “Jacob’s Ladder,” Adrian Lyne’s 1997 remake of “Lolita” and Darren Aronofsky’s psychological thriller “Requiem for a Dream.”

From Los Angeles Times

His other films include “Jacob’s Ladder,” “Indecent Proposal,” “Lolita,” “Unfaithful” and 2022’s “Deep Water.”

From Los Angeles Times

In the interview, he said that the New York Philharmonic was looking to premiere his next work, “Jacob’s Ladder,” in fall 2023.

From New York Times