ladder

[ lad-er ]

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 ( def ).
   2. ladder truck ( def ).
6. Nautical. companionway ( def 1 ).
7. Chiefly British. a run in a stocking.

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

/ 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 calledrun a line of connected stitches that have come undone in knitted material, esp stockings
5. See ladder tournament

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

Other Words From

• lad·der·less adjective
• lad·der·like lad·der·y adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of ladder¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of ladder¹

Old English hlǣdder; related to Old High German leitara

Idioms and Phrases

see bottom of the ladder .

Example Sentences

Firefighters used four water bowsers, two aerial ladder platforms, and a high volume pump to tackle the flames.

From BBC

A constant stream of clothing racks and ladders passes through the venue’s two floors.

From Los Angeles Times

He slowly climbed the parliamentary ladder and in 1981, Margaret Thatcher appointed him as her defence secretary.

From BBC

“You don’t think the guy can go up anymore in your esteem, another rung on the ladder of your esteem,” Harbaugh said, “and then he finds another one. It’s incredible.”

From Los Angeles Times

But as Pregnon set out to climb the ladder, he worried he might not make it.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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