ladder
/'lædə/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun:
- A piece of equipment for climbing: A structure consisting of two long side pieces (called stiles or rails) joined at regular intervals by shorter crosspieces (called rungs or steps), used for climbing up or down.
- A series of ascending stages or levels: A system or hierarchy in which people can progress to higher levels of status, income, or success.
- A vertical line of unravelled stitches in knitted fabric: A flaw, especially in stockings or tights, where a stitch has come undone, creating a long, straight run.
Verb:
- To develop or cause a ladder (in fabric): (Of a stocking or knitted fabric) to develop a vertical run of unravelled stitches.
Usage Examples
Noun:
- He used a ladder to clean the gutters. (A piece of equipment for climbing.)
- She is determined to climb the corporate ladder. (A series of ascending stages for progress.)
- I have a ladder in my favorite pair of tights. (A run in knitted fabric.)
Verb:
- Be careful not to ladder your new stockings on that rough chair.
- These cheap tights ladder very easily.
Advanced Usage
- "to kick away the ladder": To remove the means by which one achieved success, often preventing others from following.
- After becoming successful, he was accused of kicking away the ladder behind him.
- "the social ladder": The hierarchy of social classes.
- They were ambitious and wanted to move up the social ladder.
Variants and Related Words
- Laddering (n): The process or result of developing ladders in fabric.
- Laddering is a common problem with fine knitwear.
- Ladder-back (adj/n): A type of chair with a back consisting of horizontal slats between two uprights, resembling a ladder.
- They bought a set of ladder-back chairs for the dining room.
Synonyms
- Noun (for climbing equipment): Steps, stepladder.
- Noun (for hierarchy): Hierarchy, pecking order, scale, ranking.
- Noun (for fabric flaw): Run, snag.
Related Phrasal Verbs
(Note: "Ladder" is not commonly used in phrasal verb constructions. Its verbal use is typically transitive or intransitive as shown in the main definition.)
Related Idioms
- "climb the ladder": To advance in one's career or social status.
- She started in the mailroom and climbed the ladder to become CEO.
- "at the bottom/top of the ladder": Having the lowest or highest position in a hierarchy.
- New interns are at the bottom of the corporate ladder.
- "a ladder of opportunity": A system that provides a way for people to improve their situation.
- Education is often seen as a ladder of opportunity.
Noun
- a row of unravelled stitches
- she got a run in her stocking
- ascending stages by which somebody or something can progress
- he climbed the career ladder
- steps consisting of two parallel members connected by rungs; for climbing up or down
Verb
- come unraveled or undone as if by snagging
- Her nylons were running