rung

¹

[ruhng]

verb

1. simple past tense and past participle of ring.

rung

²

[ruhng]

noun

1. one of the crosspieces, usually rounded, forming the steps of a ladder.

2. a rounded or shaped piece fixed horizontally, for strengthening purposes, as between the legs of a chair.

3. a spoke of a wheel.

4. a stout stick, rod, or bar, especially one of rounded section, forming a piece in something framed or constructed.

5. a stage in a scale, level in a hierarchy, etc.; degree.

   He rose a few rungs in the company.

rung

¹

/ rʌŋ /

noun

1. one of the bars or rods that form the steps of a ladder

2. a crosspiece between the legs of a chair, etc

3. nautical a spoke on a ship's wheel or a handle projecting from the periphery

4. dialect,  a cudgel or staff

rung

²

/ rʌŋ /

verb

1. the past participle of ring 2

Other Word Forms

• rungless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of rung¹

before 1000; Middle English; Old English hrung; cognate with Gothic hrunga rod, German Runge

Word History and Origins

Origin of rung¹

Old English hrung ; related to Old High German runga , Gothic hrugga

Example Sentences

It requires large stores to increase the number of employees relative to self-checkout stands and also puts a limit on the number of items and types of goods that can be rung up at self-checkout.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Those who know Dombrowski best marvel at his ability to consume information from reports written about every player from the lowest rung of the minors to the big leagues and recall it without flinching.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Harbaugh, with coaching in his DNA, had been hand-picked by legendary Raiders owner Al Davis and was determined to climb the ladder one rung at a time.

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“There are a lot of rungs on the career ladder that are disappearing,” she said.

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Democrats are in a hole, and the retaliatory gerrymander of California only gets them a couple of rungs up the ladder.

Read more on Salon