Dictionary
Thesaurus
Reference
Translate
Web
Related Searches
on Ask.com
Nearby Entries
ladder - 6 dictionary results
TheLadders™ Official Site
The Premium Job Site with $100K+ Jobs for $100K+ Job Seekers
www.TheLadders.com
NY Scaffolding SALE
Get Great Deals in NY Top Brands. Get on OUR List, Free.
www.ScaffoldExpress.com
Little Giant Ladder
The Original Dealer Ships In 24hrs.
www.LadderDepot.com

lad⋅der

  [lad-er]
Use ladder in a Sentence
–noun
1. a structure of wood, metal, or rope, commonly consisting of two sidepieces between which a series of bars or rungs are set at suitable distances, forming a means of climbing up or down.
2. something resembling this.
3. a means of rising, as to eminence: the ladder of success.
4. a graded series of stages or levels in status; a hierarchical order of position or rank: high on the political ladder.
5. Nautical. companionway (def. 1).
6. Chiefly British. a run in a stocking.
–verb (used with object)
7. to climb or mount by means of a ladder: to ladder a wall.
8. to furnish with a ladder: to ladder a water tower.
9. Chiefly British. to cause a run in (a stocking).
–verb (used without object)
10. Chiefly British. to get a run, as in a stocking.
11. to gain in popularity or importance: He laddered to the top of his profession.
Origin:
bef. 1000; ME laddre, OE hlǣder; c. G Leiter, D leer (also ladder < Fris); akin to Goth hleithra tent; orig., something that slopes. See lean 1

Related forms:
lad⋅der⋅less, adjective
lad⋅der⋅like, lad⋅der⋅y, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To ladder
TheLadders™ Official Site
The Premium Job Site with $100K+ Jobs for $100K+ Job Seekers
www.TheLadders.com
NY Scaffolding SALE
Get Great Deals in NY Top Brands. Get on OUR List, Free.
www.ScaffoldExpress.com
lad·der   (lād'ər)   
n.  
    1. An often portable structure consisting of two long sides crossed by parallel rungs, used to climb up and down.
    2. Something that resembles this device, especially a run in a stocking.
    3. A means of ascent and descent: ascending the social ladder.
    4. A series of ranked stages or levels: high on the executive ladder.
    1. A means of ascent and descent: ascending the social ladder.
    2. A series of ranked stages or levels: high on the executive ladder.
intr.v.   lad·dered, lad·der·ing, lad·ders
To run, as a stocking does.

[Middle English, from Old English hlǣder; see klei- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source

Ladder

Lad"der\, n. [OE. laddre, AS. hl?der, hl?dder; akin to OFries. hladder, OHG. leitara, G. leiter, and from the root of E. lean, v. (?). See Lean, v. i., and cf. Climax.]

1. A frame usually portable, of wood, metal, or rope, for ascent and descent, consisting of two side pieces to which are fastened cross strips or rounds forming steps.

Some the engines play, And some, more bold, mount ladders to the fire. --Dryden.

2. That which resembles a ladder in form or use; hence, that by means of which one attains to eminence.

Lowliness is young ambition's ladder. --Shak.

Fish ladder. See under Fish.

Ladder beetle (Zo["o]l.), an American leaf beetle (Chrysomela scalaris). The elytra are silvery white, striped and spotted with green; the under wings are rose-colored. It feeds upon the linden tree.

Ladder handle, an iron rail at the side of a vertical fixed ladder, to grasp with the hand in climbing.

Ladder shell (Zo["o]l.), a spiral marine shell of the genus Scalaria. See Scalaria.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Cite This Source
Language Translation for : ladder
Spanish: escalera (de mano),
German: die Leiter,
Japanese: はしご
More Translations »

ladder 
O.E. hlæder, from P.Gmc. *khlaidri (cf. O.Fris. hledere, M.Du. ledere, O.H.G. leitara, Ger. Leiter), from PIE base *khli- "to lean" (cf. Gk. klimax "ladder;" see lean (v.)). The belief that walking under one brings bad luck is attested from 1787, but its origin likely is more pragmatic than symbolic.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source

Ladder

occurs only once, in the account of Jacob's vision (Gen. 28:12).

Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
Cite This Source

ladder

see bottom of the ladder.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see ladder on Thesaurus | Reference
Little Giant Ladder
The Original Dealer Ships In 24hrs.
www.LadderDepot.com
Little Giant Ladder
Now with wheels! - As Seen On TV - Free Platform, DVD & Same Day Ship.
www.eLadders.com
Ladder Extension
Safe-T Ladder Extension System from Peak Supply Company
www.PeakSupplyCompany.com