Ladder definition
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.
Used his accomplishments as a ladder to success.
High on the executive ladder.
The ladder of success.
Other Word Forms
Noun
Origin of ladder
- Middle English from Old English hlǣder klei- in Indo-European roots
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
- 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.
From Wiktionary