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

The trade’s unofficial motto—“deliver or die”—has never rung so true.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Arithmetic explains part of this: When the rungs on the ladder are closer together, it’s easier to climb.

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Every bell pull that could be found was rung and rung and rung yet again, to wake the sleeping servants, call for smelling salts, find someone to run for a doctor, and so on.

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Instead, let entrepreneurs and capital markets thrive, build order and create opportunities for everyone from the lowest to highest rungs of the economic ladder, and move society toward a higher purpose.

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From this, they deduced that DNA must have a three-dimensional, double-helix structure - like a twisted ladder with rungs formed of alternating salt and phosphate groups.

Read more on BBC