rung

/rʌŋ/
noun
  1. One of the horizontal steps of a ladder.
    • The wooden rung of the old ladder creaked under his weight.
    • Make sure the rung is secure before you step on it.
    • She climbed carefully, placing her foot on each rung before moving up.
  2. A level or position in a hierarchy or career.
    • Each promotion moved him one rung higher on the corporate ladder.
    • She is on the top rung of her profession as a surgeon.
    • He started at the bottom rung of the company and worked his way up.
verb
  1. Past participle of ring: to have made a sound, especially with a bell or telephone.
    • By the time I got there, the phone had already rung ten times.
    • She has rung the bell three times, but no one answered.
    • The church bells have rung every hour since morning.
  2. Past participle of ring: to have called someone on the telephone.
    • I have rung him twice today, but he didn't pick up.
    • She had rung her mother before leaving the office.
    • Have you rung the doctor to make an appointment?