ladder

[ lad-er ]

/ ˈlæd ər /

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noun

a structure of wood, metal, or rope, commonly consisting of two sidepieces between which a series of bars or rungs are set at suitable distances, forming a means of climbing up or down.

something resembling this.

a means of rising, as to eminence: the ladder of success.

a graded series of stages or levels in status; a hierarchical order of position or rank: high on the political ladder.

Nautical. companionway (def. 1).

Chiefly British. a run in a stocking.

verb (used with object)

to climb or mount by means of a ladder: to ladder a wall.

to furnish with a ladder: to ladder a water tower.

Chiefly British. to cause a run in (a stocking).

verb (used without object)

Chiefly British. to get a run, as in a stocking.

to gain in popularity or importance: He laddered to the top of his profession.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of ladder

First recorded before 1000; Middle English ladder(e), Old English hlǣd(d)er; cognate with German Leiter, Dutch leer (also ladder, from Frisian); akin to Gothic hleithra “tent, hut”; originally, “something that slopes or leans”; see also lean¹

OTHER WORDS FROM ladder

lad·der·less, adjectivelad·der·like, lad·der·y, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH ladder

ladder , latter

Words nearby ladder

LACW, lacy, lad, Ladakh, ladanum, ladder, ladder back, ladder company, ladderman, ladder polymer, ladder stitch

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use ladder in a sentence

His “renormalization group,” which he first described in 1971, justified QED’s tortured calculations and supplied a ladder to climb the scales of universal systems.
How Mathematical ‘Hocus-Pocus’ Saved Particle Physics|Charlie Wood|September 17, 2020|Quanta Magazine
This approach means that when fires do occur, there’s often far more fuel to burn, and it acts as a ladder, allowing the flames to climb into the crowns and take down otherwise resistant mature trees.
Suppressing fires has failed. Here’s what California needs to do instead.|James Temple|September 17, 2020|MIT Technology Review
We have heard from others who feel they have to not appear “angry” or “aggressive” in order to move up the corporate ladder.
3 ways to make sure corporate diversity and inclusion efforts have a lasting impact|matthewheimer|August 31, 2020|Fortune
I worked on Capitol Hill and kept working my way up the ladder.
Full Transcript: Sean Spicer on ‘The Carlos Watson Show’|Daniel Malloy|August 26, 2020|Ozy

The fall in spending is especially pronounced at the bottom of the ladder.
Haves and Have-Nots: Pandemic Recovery Explodes China’s Wealth Gap|Daniel Malloy|August 19, 2020|Ozy
Then when we arrive at his flat in Shepherd's Bush following the escape, perhaps there ought to be remnants of the ladder.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days|David Freeman|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Some of the rescuers took elevators to the top floor and continued up to the roof via a straight ladder.
Rescue at One World Trade Center|Michael Daly|November 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Historically, education was one way the middle and working classes, and even the poor, ascended the class ladder.
Trustafarians Want to Tell You How to Live|Joel Kotkin|October 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The escalatory ladder is far more terrifying than it was on the eve of the millennium.
ICYMI: India-Pakistan Head for Nuke War|Bruce Riedel|October 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Then, a sharp-eyed woman pointed out a ladder leaning against a tree on the side of the pond.
Philippe Petit’s Moment of Concern Walking the WTC Tightrope|Anthony Haden-Guest|August 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Some of the alarm returned, however, when the creature attempted to climb up by his own ladder.
The Giant of the North|R.M. Ballantyne
It was no sooner accomplished, than Ripperda was on the top of the ladder, and in a few seconds by his side.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4|Jane Porter
No, he was a hard-headed Scotchman, full of ability and work, and as a railway manager stood at the top of the ladder.
Fifty Years of Railway Life in England, Scotland and Ireland|Joseph Tatlow
He said they would be unable to raise the heavy ladder to the tower window; and that was a fact.
The Campfire Girls of Roselawn|Margaret Penrose
After he had caught her, they were carried up a bamboo ladder by their friends, and sprinkled with water out of a cocoanut shell.
Alila, Our Little Philippine Cousin|Mary Hazelton Wade

British Dictionary definitions for ladder

ladder

/ (ˈlædə) /

noun

a portable framework of wood, metal, rope, etc, in the form of two long parallel members connected by several parallel rungs or steps fixed to them at right angles, for climbing up or down

any hierarchy conceived of as having a series of ascending stages, levels, etcthe social ladder

anything resembling a ladder
(as modifier)ladder stitch

Also called: run mainly British a line of connected stitches that have come undone in knitted material, esp stockings

See ladder tournament

verb

mainly British to cause a line of interconnected stitches in (stockings, etc) to undo, as by snagging, or (of a stocking) to come undone in this way

Word Origin for ladder

Old English hlǣdder; related to Old High German leitara

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with ladder

ladder

see bottom of the ladder.

ladder

Origin of ladder

OTHER WORDS FROM ladder

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH ladder

Words nearby ladder

Words related to ladder

How to use ladder in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for ladder

Word Origin for ladder

Other Idioms and Phrases with ladder