ladder

ladder

I

lad‧der¹ S3 /ˈlædə $ -ər/ noun [countable]
1. a piece of equipment used for climbing up to or down from high places. A ladder has two bars that are connected by rungs (=short bars that you use as steps):
    She climbed up the ladder.
    He hurt himself falling off a ladder. ⇨ rope ladder, stepladder
2. a series of levels which someone moves up and down within an organization, profession, or society
    career/corporate ladder
    Stevens slowly worked his way up the corporate ladder.
    Becoming a doctor would be a step up the social ladder.
    the first step on the ladder of success
3. British English a long thin hole in stockings or tights where some stitches have broken
   SYN  run American English:
    Yes, I know I’ve got a ladder in my tights.
⇨ Snakes and Ladders
     

COLLOCATIONS

■ verbs
   ▪ climb (up/down) a ladder He climbed the ladder up to the diving platform.
   ▪ go up/down a ladder Be careful going down the ladder!
   ▪ come up/down a ladder Dickson came up the ladder from the engine room.
   ▪ descend a ladder formal (=climb down) He closed the hatch and descended the ladder.
   ▪ fall off a ladder One of the builders fell off a ladder and broke his leg.
■ phrases
   ▪ a rung of a ladder (=the part you put your foot on) The first rung of the ladder was broken.
   ▪ a step of a ladder (=the part you put your foot on) The can of paint was balanced on one of the steps of the ladder.
   ▪ the foot of a ladder (=the bottom of a ladder) Zach waited at the foot of the ladder while Sam climbed up.
   ▪ the bottom/top of a ladder She sighed with relief when she reached the bottom of the ladder.

II

ladder² verb [intransitive and transitive]
British English if stockings or tights ladder, or if you ladder them, a long thin hole is made in them because some stitches have broken
   SYN  run American English
     

THESAURUS

   ▪ tear to damage paper or cloth by pulling it too hard, or letting it touch something sharp: She unwrapped the present carefully, trying not to tear the paper. | I tore a hole in my jacket, climbing over the fence.
   ▪ rip to tear something quickly or violently: Beth excitedly ripped open the package. | Stop pulling my dress! You’ll rip it!
   ▪ split to tear your trousers or shirt when you put them on, because they are too tight for you: He bent down and split his trousers. | Oh no, now I’ve split my shirt.
   ▪ ladder British English if a woman ladders her tights or STOCKINGS, she tears them so that a long thin line appears in them: Damn! I’ve laddered my tights!
   ▪ snag to catch a piece of clothing on something rough or sharp so that it tears slightly: I snagged my shirt on a nail.
   ▪ shred to deliberately destroy letters, documents etc by cutting them into thin pieces, often by using a special machine: In order to prevent fraud, it’s best to shred your bank statements. | I went through all my papers shredding things I didn’t need.
   ▪ frayed torn a little along the edges – used about clothes, carpets etc that have been used a lot: He was wearing an old pair of frayed jeans. | The rug was a little frayed around the edges. | The jacket was a little frayed at the cuffs.