A ladder is a piece of equipment used for climbing up something or down from something. It consists of two long piecesof wood, metal, or rope with steps fixed between them.
2. singular noun
You can use theladder to refer to something such as a society, organization, or system which has different levels that people can progress up or drop down.
If they want to climb the ladder of success they should be given that opportunity. [+ of]
She admired her mother's sister for moving up the social ladder.
Synonyms: hierarchy, ranking, pecking order More Synonyms of ladder
3. countable noun
A ladder is a hole or torn part in a pair of stockings or tights, where some of the vertical threads have broken, leaving only the horizontal threads.
[mainly British]
Her hair was a mess and there was a ladder in her tights.
regional note: in AM, use run
More Synonyms of ladder
ladder in British English
(ˈlædə)
noun
1.
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
2.
any hierarchy conceived of as having a series of ascending stages, levels, etc
the social ladder
3.
a.
anything resembling a ladder
b.
(as modifier)
ladder stitch
4. Also called: run mainly British
a line of connected stitches that have come undone in knitted material, esp stockings
5. ladder tournament
verb
6. 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
Old English hlǣdder; related to Old High German leitara
ladder in American English
(ˈlædər)
noun
1.
a.
a framework consisting of two parallel sidepieces connected by a series of rungsor crosspieces on which a person steps in climbing up or down
b. Nautical
any staircase or vertical set of steps
2.
anything by means of which a person climbs or rises
3.
a rising series of steps, stages, or levels
the ladder of success
4. Chiefly British
a run as in a stocking
verb transitive, verb intransitive
5. Chiefly British
to have or cause to have a ladder, or run
Word origin
ME < OE hlæder, akin to Ger leiter < IE base *lei-, to incline, lean1
ladder in Finance
(lædər)
Word forms: (present) ladders, (past) laddered, (perfect) laddered, (progressive) laddering
verb
(Finance: Investment)
If you ladder investments, you buy a series of them that mature in sequence.
If you wish to hold several individual CDs, consider laddering your investments, spreading maturity dates evenly over three to five years.
Laddered dividends can be a good retirement income strategy.
If you ladder investments, you buy a series of them that mature in sequence.
Examples of 'ladder' in a sentence
ladder
They used ladders and rope to free her.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
The government must help young people on to the housing ladder.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
She now reaches the second floor via a metal ladder propped against a wooden mezzanine.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
She especially wants to give more people from humble backgrounds a chance of climbing the social ladder.
The Sun (2016)
They have already climbed the ladder once and want to get back on it.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
She had scaled the A&E ladders only to be thrown down a snake.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
The snakes outnumbered the ladders in the original Hindu game.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Intelligent people can quickly learn vital skills and acquire necessary certifications to get on the IT career ladder.
Computing (2010)
I went down the rope ladder but found the raft too far off, so had to swim for it.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The foreign secretary was busy trying to find a perch or he would surely have shouted:'Give them longer ladders.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The ladder they used is still against the wall.
The Sun (2015)
The new moon helps you up the ladder of success if you think and act constructively.
The Sun (2015)
Those at the top of the career ladder are less stressed and live longer.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Others are postponing their ambition to move further up the housing ladder.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The first line was to carry two scaling ladders.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The first fire engines on the scene had ladders long enough to reach only the tenth floor.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
There was a rope ladder with wooden steps hanging down her side.
The Sun (2012)
There have been tantrums over snakes and ladders.
The Sun (2010)
Tory policies cannot just be about helping people to climb economic and social ladders.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
You used to have to climb the ladder slowly.
The Sun (2014)
But it is providing serious ladders of opportunity where they are needed most.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
He used a ladder to get part way up then edged along a branch.
The Sun (2010)
They used chain ladders to scale walls and scramble onto the roof of the armoury.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Take advantage of the many different schemes out there to help you get on the careers ladder.
The Sun (2009)
It is meant to help people get on the housing ladder.
The Sun (2016)
But as he clambered back down the ladder he dropped the fish, injuring it.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
On ascending the ladder and crawling inside, smoke from the hearth stings the eyes.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
As you climb the success ladder, share your experiences and be a role model.
The Sun (2011)
Anybody who loses to a fast bowler must be near the lowest rungs of society 's chess ladder.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
I happily walk round with ladders in my tights and holes in my shoes.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
But many of those eager to clamber on to or ascend the ladder are unable to proceed as a result of the continuing shortage of mortgage funds.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
It was a 15ft vertical drop into the tunnel, down a metal ladder set into the wall.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
In other languages
ladder
British English: ladder /ˈlædə/ NOUN
A ladder is a piece of equipment used for climbing up something such as a wall. It consists of two long pieces of wood or metal with steps fixed between them.
He climbed the ladder so he could see over the wall.
American English: ladder
Arabic: سُلَّمٌ
Brazilian Portuguese: escada
Chinese: 梯子
Croatian: ljestve
Czech: žebřík
Danish: stige
Dutch: ladder
European Spanish: escalera mano
Finnish: tikkaat
French: échelle escabeau
German: Leiter
Greek: σκάλα κινητή
Italian: scala
Japanese: はしご
Korean: 사다리
Norwegian: stige
Polish: drabina
European Portuguese: escada
Romanian: scară
Russian: лестница
Latin American Spanish: escalera
Swedish: stege
Thai: บันได
Turkish: taşınır merdiven
Ukrainian: драбина
Vietnamese: thang
All related terms of 'ladder'
fish ladder
a row of ascending pools or weirs connected by short falls to allow fish to pass barrages or dams
jack ladder
the ladder reaching up to heaven that Jacob saw in a dream ( Genesis 28:12–17)
ladder back
a type of chair in which the back is constructed of horizontal slats between two uprights
ladder fern
any fern of the tropical genus Nephrolepis , some species of which are grown as ornamental greenhouse or house plants for their handsome deeply-cut drooping fronds : family Polypodiaceae
rope ladder
A rope ladder is a ladder made of two long ropes connected by short pieces of rope, wood, or metal.
sea ladder
a rope ladder , set of steps , etc, by which a boat may be boarded at sea
aerial ladder
a power-operated extending ladder mounted on a fire engine
bucket ladder
a series of buckets that move in a continuous chain , used to dredge riverbeds, etc, or to excavate land
ladder stitch
an embroidery stitch with parallel crossbars in a ladderlike design
ladder truck
→ hook and ladder
salmon ladder
a series of steps in a river designed to enable salmon to bypass a dam and move upstream to their breeding grounds
Silken Ladder
→ the Silken Ladder
squash ladder
a list showing the relative order of merit of a set of squash players determined by the winning player in each match taking the higher of the two players' positions
Jacob's ladder
the ladder reaching up to heaven that Jacob saw in a dream ( Genesis 28:12–17)
property ladder
the hierarchy of ascending stages up which property owners progress as they are able to afford more expensive houses
scaling ladder
a ladder used to climb high walls , esp one used formerly to enter a besieged town , fortress , etc
companion ladder
a ladder that allows sailors to move up and down between the decks of the ship
corporate ladder
the hierarchy of posts with a particular corporation or corporations in general
extension ladder
a ladder that can be made longer by pulling out an extra section
ladder tournament
a tournament in a sport or game in which each contestant in a list attempts to defeat and displace the contestant above him or her
turntable ladder
a power-operated extending ladder mounted on a fire engine
accommodation ladder
a flight of stairs or a ladder for lowering over the side of a ship for access to and from a small boat , pier , etc
hook and ladder
a fire engine that carries long ladders , hooks for tearing down ceilings , and other equipment
ladder-back chair
a chair with a back of two upright posts connected by horizontal slats
the Silken Ladder
a one-act opera by Rossini , telling the story of Giulia, who is secretly married to Dorvil; he visits her bedroom every night by climbing up a ladder made of silk. Giulia's guardian , Dormont, expects her to marry Blansac, but she introduces Blansac to her cousin Lucilla; after much confusion , the two couples are joyfully united
nephrolepis
any fern of the tropical genus Nephrolepis, some species of which are grown as ornamental greenhouse or house plants for their handsome deeply-cut drooping fronds : family Polypodiaceae
Chinese translation of 'ladder'
ladder
(ˈlædəʳ)
n(c)
(for climbing) 梯子 (tīzi) (个(個), gè)
(Brit, in tights) 抽丝(絲) (chōusī)
美 = run
vt, vi
(Brit)[tights]抽丝(絲) (chōusī)
the social/career ladder (fig) 社会(會)/事业(業)阶(階)梯 (shèhuì/shìyè jiētī)
1 (noun)
Definition
a portable frame consisting of two long parallel supports connected by steps, for climbing up or down
She broke her arm when she fell off a ladder.
Synonyms
steps
set of steps
2 (noun)
Definition
any system thought of as having a series of ascending stages
She admired her sister for climbing up the social ladder.
Synonyms
hierarchy
Even in the desert there was a kind of social hierarchy.