Dictionary definition · ladder
noun
- steps consisting of two parallel members connected by rungs; for climbing up or down
- ascending stages by which somebody or something can progress"he climbed the career ladder"
- a row of unravelled stitches"she got a run in her stocking"
verb
- come unraveled or undone as if by snagging"Her nylons were running"
Source: Open English WordNet (CC BY 4.0).