rung

¹

[ ruhng ]

verb

1. simple past tense and past participle of ring ².

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 /

verb

1. See ring
   the past participle of ring 2

rung

²

/ 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

Usage

See ring 2

Derived Forms

• ˈrungless, adjective

Other Words From

• rungless 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

After catching our breath at the bridge, we passed a set of iron rungs jutting out from a cliff, a shortcut back to the valley below.

From Washington Post

The half-mile trail is almost entirely a stone staircase, with a few iron rungs embedded in granite.

From Outside Online

The lowest rung is the stage where prospects take the action of conversion.

From Search Engine Watch

Collecting, managing, and analyzing intersectional data on every employee, at every stage of the talent lifecycle, on every rung of the ladder, and across an entire organization is no small undertaking.

From Fortune

Panpsychists look at the many rungs on the complexity ladder of nature and see no obvious line between mind and no-mind.

From Nautilus

I was of extremely low rank, a Senior Aircraftman – only one rung above the bottom.

From The Daily Beast

She said that at one point someone had rung her mother and said "eye for an eye, you deserve to die".

From The Daily Beast

Meanwhile, Daenerys Targaryen resides on the next highest rung of relative female liberation.

From The Daily Beast

Still today, some children are told to “walk off” a blow to the head or shake off having had their “bell rung.”

From The Daily Beast

This hit dismantled a midlevel rung of a cartel, but the effect was only temporary.

From The Daily Beast

Isaac Bolum had fixed himself comfortably on two legs of his chair, with the projecting soles of his boots caught behind the rung.

From Project Gutenberg

If Menshikova had not supported him in her arms, the curtain must have been rung down, wrote Tchaikovsky to his brothers.

From Project Gutenberg

I leaped and caught the bottom rung of a fire escape, pulled myself up until I could get a foothold.

From Project Gutenberg

In every borough bells were rung; bonfires were lighted; and candles were placed in the windows at night.

From Project Gutenberg

In her mind, as it were, she put down her good resolutions on the balcony and hurried in to see who had rung her up.

From Project Gutenberg