lad·der [ladderladdersladderedladdering] noun, verb BrE [ˈlædə(r)] NAmE [ˈlædər] noun 1. a piece of equipment for climbing up and down a wall, the side of a building, etc, consisting of two lengths of wood or metal that are joined together by steps or ↑rungs •to climb up/fall off a ladder see also ↑stepladder 2. usually singular a series of stages by which you can make progress in your life or career •to move up or down the social ladder •the career ladder • (BrE)to get onto the property ladder (= buy your first home) 3. (BrE) (NAmE run)a long thin hole in ↑tights or ↑stockings where some threads have broken 4. (alsoˈladder tournament)a competition in a particular sport or game in which teams or players are arranged in a list and they can move up the list by defeating one of the teams or players above •He's third on the tennis ladder at work.
Word Origin: Old English hlǣd(d)er, of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch leer and German Leiter.
Example Bank: •He went up the ladder onto the deck. •His good looks helped him on the ladder to success. •I was standing lower down the ladder. •I've got a ladder in my new tights. •Several of the ladder's rungs were broken. •She was anxious to move up the promotion ladder. •She was up a ladder fixing the roof. •We put up the ladder against the wall. •We put up the ladder and went to get the paint. •creatures higher up the evolutionary ladder •helping her on the ladder to success •the ladder of fame •the old problem of how to get onto the first step on the ladder •the people at the top of the social ladder •Ann is on the bottom rung of the promotional ladder. •He progressed up the ladder and is now a partner in the firm. •How quickly you move up the career ladder depends largely on your level of commitment. •Humans are relative newcomers on the evolutionary ladder. •I started out at the very bottom of the ladder. •It is increasingly difficult for young people to get on the housing ladder. •She was not interested in climbing the corporate ladder.
verb intransitive, transitive ~ (sth) (BrE) if ↑tights or ↑stockings ladder or you ladder them, a long thin hole appears in them Verb forms:
Word Origin: Old English hlǣd(d)er, of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch leer and German Leiter.
