rung Hear it!

rung¹ Definition

rung (ruŋ)

noun

  1. any sturdy stick, bar, or rod, esp. a rounded one, used as a crossbar, support, etc.; specif.,
    1. any of the crosspieces constituting the steps of a ladder
    2. a supporting crosspiece, as between the legs of a chair
  2. a stage or degree in a scale, as of social acceptance
  3. Scot. a cudgel

Etymology: ME rong < OE hrung, staff, rod, pole, akin to Ger runge; for prob. IE base see ring

rung² Definition

rung (ruŋ)

intransitive verb, transitive verb

Dialectal ring

rung Synonyms

rung

n.

tread, round, crosspiece, bar, rod, crossbar, level, board.

rung Usage Examples

Preposition: on

ladder: A very small section of DNA showing the double helix structure linked by bases, like the rungs on a twisted ladder.

Converse of subject

connect: The ribbons are connected by rungs which are formed by two bases, one attached to each ribbon.

Converse of object

  • climb: Each section is fitted with built-in climbing rungs in one face, removing the need for a separate ladder.
  • fix: It means fixing the broken rungs on the ladder from poverty to wealth.
  • have: A boat has a ladder that has six rungs; each rung is one foot apart.
  • miss: Jacob's Ladder: A ladder with missing rungs and big distances apart!
  • reach: Margaret Fairlie reached the very highest rungs of the academic ladder as the first woman to hold a professorial chair in Scotland.
  • use: I believe we used rungs 9 " long by ¾ " dia. at 11 " centers.

Adjective modifier

  • wooden: Platform Access 40mm diameter wooden rungs, Rock climbing face.
  • bottom: The bottom rungs are rope to keep the box size to a minimum.
  • low: In most cultures, shepherds occupy the lower rungs of society's ladder.
  • several: Whatever they were, the Sons stood several rungs down the social ladder from the elite.
  • few: Eleven years in the graveyard of English football a few rungs above Hackney Marshes fodder is not nearly good enough.
  • first: However, we can say that the first rungs of this ladder are those which are most suitable for us.

Preposition: down

ladder: Whatever they were, the Sons stood several rungs down the social ladder from the elite.

Noun used with modifier

  • ladder: Sometimes the DNA ladder rungs get mixed up or even lost.
  • hardwood: Rope ladder with 35mm diameter hardwood rungs, 12mm soft feel poly hemp rope.
  • metal: Metal rungs set in one side of the shaft were the obvious means of access.

Preposition: of

  • ladder: Always hold on to the rungs of a ladder, never slide your hands up or down the stiles.
  • best-practice: Obviously that practice fails the " always have a backup " test, when I fall off the rungs of best-practice!