rung

¹ American  

[ruhng] / rʌŋ /

verb

1. simple past tense and past participle of ring.

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rung ² American  

[ruhng] / rʌŋ /

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.

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rung ¹ British  

/ 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

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rung ² British  

/ rʌŋ /

verb

1. the past participle of ring 2

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Other Word Forms

• rungless adjective

Etymology

Origin of rung

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

Example Sentences

She was at her desk, with her feet wrapped around the rungs of the chair, and a pencil tip in her mouth.

From Literature

“People think there’s this invisible ladder and you have to get to the next rung of the ladder,” he says.

From Los Angeles Times

The boy had been to enough schools to know that certain rules were universal and that kids like Toby occupied lower rungs of the social ladder.

From Literature

S&P Global assigned Strategy a B- issuer credit rating with stable outlook in October, five notches below the lowest rung of investment grade.

From Barron's

S&P Global assigned Strategy a B- issuer credit rating with stable outlook in October, five notches below the lowest rung of investment grade.

From Barron's