ladder

[lad-er]

noun

1. a structure of wood, metal, or rope, commonly consisting of two sidepieces between which a series of bars or rungs are set at suitable distances, forming a means of climbing up or down.

2. something resembling this.

3. a means of rising, as to eminence.

   the ladder of success.

4. a graded series of stages or levels in status; a hierarchical order of position or rank.

   high on the political ladder.

5. 1. ladder company.

   2. ladder truck.

6. Nautical.,  companionway.

7. Chiefly British.,  a run in a stocking.

verb (used with object)

1. to climb or mount by means of a ladder.

   to ladder a wall.

2. to furnish with a ladder.

   to ladder a water tower.

3. Chiefly British.,  to cause a run in (a stocking).

verb (used without object)

1. Chiefly British.,  to get a run, as in a stocking.

2. to gain in popularity or importance.

   He laddered to the top of his profession.

ladder

/ ˈlædə /

noun

1. a portable framework of wood, metal, rope, etc, in the form of two long parallel members connected by several parallel rungs or steps fixed to them at right angles, for climbing up or down

2. any hierarchy conceived of as having a series of ascending stages, levels, etc

   the social ladder

3. 1. anything resembling a ladder

   2. ( as modifier )

      ladder stitch

4. Also called: run. a line of connected stitches that have come undone in knitted material, esp stockings

5. See ladder tournament

verb

1. to cause a line of interconnected stitches in (stockings, etc) to undo, as by snagging, or (of a stocking) to come undone in this way

Other Word Forms

• ladderless adjective
• ladderlike adjective
• laddery adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of ladder¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English ladder(e), Old English hlǣd(d)er; cognate with German Leiter, Dutch leer (also ladder, from Frisian); akin to Gothic hleithra “tent, hut”; originally, “something that slopes or leans”; lean ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of ladder¹

Old English hlǣdder; related to Old High German leitara

Idioms and Phrases

see bottom of the ladder.

Example Sentences

More Americans are turning to generic brands and stretching out perishable goods as economic concerns creep up the income ladder, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta President Raphael Bostic said.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

With the roof alight and at risk of collapse, firefighters needed to work almost entirely from ladder trucks.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

The Nashville Fire Department used several ladders to reach the 46-year old client who survived the fall after being trapped on a tree for hours with the emergency parachute.

Read more on BBC

Shooters opened fire from pickup truck beds and atop ladders, used drones to spy on targets and maintained caches of automatic weapons in storage units.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Graduates looking for jobs have been told to find local jobs first to get on the career ladder.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• extent 
• proportion 
• range 
• rate 
• ratio 
• scope 
• system