ladder

American  

[lad-er] / ˈlæd ər /

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.

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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 British  

/ 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

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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

ladder Idioms  

1. see bottom of the ladder.

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Other Word Forms

• ladderless adjective
• ladderlike adjective
• laddery adjective

Etymology

Origin of ladder

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

Example Sentences

For decades, Americans climbed that ladder and landed reliably in a secure middle class.

From The Wall Street Journal

Crews used a ladder to rescue a 42-year-old man who had broken through the windows on the second floor in an effort to flee the blaze.

From Los Angeles Times

How do annuities compare with alternatives such as a ladder of government bonds or keeping the money invested in the market?

From The Wall Street Journal

“There’s a little bit more of a scalable ladder here,” Greg Cebulski, 38, said from a large sunroom overlooking a generous yard.

From The Wall Street Journal

By about 20:00 the large flames appeared to have been extinguished, while firefighters on ladders continued to tackle the remnants of the blaze.

From BBC

Related Words

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