Definition

1. 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.

2. 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

1. a row of unravelled stitches
   • she got a run in her stocking
2. ascending stages by which somebody or something can progress
   • he climbed the career ladder
3. steps consisting of two parallel members connected by rungs; for climbing up or down

Verb

1. come unraveled or undone as if by snagging
   • Her nylons were running