ladder

/ˈlædər/
noun
  1. A piece of equipment used for climbing up or down, consisting of two long side pieces joined by short steps (rungs).
    • The firefighter carried a long ladder to the burning building.
    • She carefully stepped down the wooden ladder from the attic.
    • He climbed the ladder to clean the gutters.
  2. A series of levels or stages that lead to a higher position, especially in a career or society.
    • He started at the bottom of the career ladder and worked his way up.
    • Education is often seen as a ladder to a better life.
    • Hard work helped her move up the corporate ladder quickly.
  3. A long, thin hole in a stocking or tights where stitches have broken.
    • He tried to fix the ladder in his sock with a needle.
    • I caught my stocking on a nail and got a ladder.
    • She noticed a ladder in her tights just before the meeting.
verb
  1. To develop a long, thin hole in a stocking or tights where stitches have broken.
    • These cheap socks ladder easily after just a few washes.
    • Her stockings laddered when she knelt on the gravel.
    • Be careful not to ladder your new tights on that rough chair.
What does "ladder" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean