ladder

lad·der

An orange ladder.

noun

The definition of a ladder is something made of two parallel side pieces with evenly spaced cross bars used for climbing, or a rising increase in levels.

An example of a ladder is what someone would use to climb to the ground from a fire escape on the second floor.
An example of a ladder is a person starting in an entry level position and climbing their way up to an executive position.

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"ladder." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/ladder>.

APA Style

ladder. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/ladder

ladder

1. a framework consisting of two parallel sidepieces connected by a series of rungs or crosspieces on which a person steps in climbing up or down
2. Naut. any staircase or vertical set of steps
anything by means of which a person climbs or rises
a rising series of steps, stages, or levels: the ladder of success
Chiefly Brit. a run as in a stocking

Origin of ladder

Middle English from Old English hlæder, akin to German leiter from Indo-European base an unverified form ?lei-, to incline, lean

Chiefly Brit. to have or cause to have a ladder, or run

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MLA Style

"ladder." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/ladder>.

APA Style

ladder. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/ladder

ladder

noun

a. An often portable structure consisting of two long sides crossed by parallel rungs, used to climb up and down.
b. Something that resembles this device, especially a run in a stocking.
a. A means of moving higher or lower, as in a hierarchy: used his accomplishments as a ladder to success.
b. A series of ranked stages or levels: high on the executive ladder.
A fish ladder.
Sports
a. An athletic workout in which one does progressively longer intervals followed by progressively shorter intervals.
b. One of the intervals in such a workout.

intransitive verb

lad·dered, lad·der·ing, lad·ders

To run, as a stocking does.

Origin of ladder

Middle English from Old English hlǣder ; see klei- in Indo-European roots.

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"ladder." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/ladder>.

APA Style

ladder. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/ladder

Noun

(plural ladders)

A frame, usually portable, of wood, metal, or rope, used for ascent and descent, consisting of two side pieces to which are fastened rungs: cross strips or rounds acting as steps.
(figuratively) The hierarchy or ranking system within an organization, e.g. the corporate ladder.
(chiefly UK) A length of unravelled fabric in a knitted garment, especially in nylon stockings; a run.
In the game of go, a sequence of moves following a zigzag pattern and ultimately leading to the capture of the attacked stones.

Usage notes

For stockings touted as resistant to ladders, the phrase “ladder resist” is used in the UK. The American equivalent is “run resistant”.

Verb

(third-person singular simple present ladders, present participle laddering, simple past and past participle laddered)

(firefighting) To ascend a building or wall using a ladder.
(of a knitted garment) To develop a ladder as a result of a broken thread.

Origin

From Old English hlǣder, from Proto-Germanic *hlaidriz (compare West Frisian ljedder, Dutch leer, German Leiter), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱleytro (compare Old Irish clithar 'hedge', Umbrian [script?] (kletram) 'stretcher'), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱley- (“to lean”). More at lean, related to lid.