Definition

1. Noun:
   • A crosspiece forming a step of a ladder: A horizontal support on a ladder that provides a place to step while climbing.
   • A crosspiece between the legs of a chair: A horizontal structural piece that connects and strengthens the legs of a chair or similar piece of furniture.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Be careful; the bottom rung of that old ladder is cracked.
  • He sat on the chair, his feet resting on the lower rung.

Advanced Usage

• "The first/bottom rung of the ladder": A metaphor for the starting point or lowest level in a hierarchy, career, or process.
  • She started on the bottom rung as an intern and worked her way up to manager.
• "To climb the corporate/social ladder rung by rung": To advance gradually through the levels of an organization or society.
  • He patiently climbed the corporate ladder, one rung at a time.

Variants and Related Words

• Ring (verb): The base verb. "Rung" is the past participle of "ring" (e.g., ). This is a separate lexical item from the noun "rung."
• Rundle (noun): A less common synonym for a ladder rung or the step of a wheel.

Synonyms

• Step (specifically for a ladder).
• Crosspiece.
• Crossbar.

Related Phrases

• "On the highest rung": At the top level of a hierarchy or system.
  • After decades of work, she found herself on the highest rung of her profession.

Noun

1. one of the crosspieces that form the steps of a ladder
2. a crosspiece between the legs of a chair