ladder

ladder — noun

1. a tool with two long side pieces connected by short flat steps (called rungs), u

1.名詞A2
釋義

a tool with two long side pieces connected by short flat steps (called rungs), used for reaching high places

例句

The painter set his ladder against the wall before starting work.

collocation: set a ladder against [wall/tree/building]

Sayaka climbed the wooden ladder to reach the books on the top shelf.

同義詞
  • stepladder

    a specific type of ladder that stands on its own with a folding frame

  • step stool

    a shorter, one- or two-step platform for reaching low heights, not a full ladder

文法句型

ladder + against/on + noun phrase

用法筆記

The flat steps of a ladder are called rungs. A stepladder has a folding frame that stands on its own, while an extension ladder can be adjusted to different lengths.

常見錯誤

❌He climbed on the ladder carefully.
✅He climbed the ladder carefully.
💡With 'climb', the preposition 'on' is unnecessary unless you mean moving about on a ladder that is already horizontal.
❌Step ladder' (two words)
✅stepladder' (one word)
💡In British and American English this is written as a single compound.

2. the path of upward movement in a profession, where each stage brings greater res

2.名詞B2
釋義

the path of upward movement in a profession, where each stage brings greater responsibility and status

例句

After three years as a junior editor, Eleni started climbing the publishing ladder.

collocation: climb the [career/profession] ladder

Hard work and networking helped Ignacio move up the corporate ladder quickly.

collocation: move up the corporate ladder

同義詞
  • career path

    the sequence of jobs someone has; focuses on the direction rather than vertical movement

  • promotion track

    a structured route within a single company toward higher positions

文法句型

the + noun + ladder

climb/move up + the + ladder

用法筆記

This sense is almost always used with definite article 'the' or a possessive (her/their). The 'corporate ladder' and 'career ladder' are the most common fixed phrases. The word 'rung' (one of the horizontal steps) is frequently used metaphorically: 'the first rung on the ladder' means the very first stage.

常見錯誤

❌I am climbing on the career ladder.
✅I am climbing the career ladder.
💡The preposition 'on' is not used with the figurative sense.
❌He fell off the success ladder.
✅He fell off the corporate ladder.
💡'Success ladder' is not a standard collocation; use 'corporate ladder', 'career ladder', or 'social ladder.'

3. a long thin vertical tear in tights, stockings, or knitted fabric where threads

3.名詞B1
釋義

a long thin vertical tear in tights, stockings, or knitted fabric where threads have broken

例句

Hoa noticed a ladder running up the side of her tights just before the meeting.

pattern: a ladder + running up / appearing in [garment]

The rough edge of the desk caused a ladder in Rachel's stocking.

同義詞
  • run

    American English equivalent; a long vertical tear in stockings or tights

  • rip

    a general tear in fabric; less specific to the vertical shape of a ladder

文法句型

have/get + a ladder + in + noun phrase

用法筆記

This sense is primarily British English. In American English the equivalent word is 'run' (e.g., 'I have a run in my stocking'). The verb form 'ladder' also exists for this meaning.

常見錯誤

❌There is a ladder on my tights.
✅There is a ladder in my tights.
💡The preposition used is 'in', not 'on.'

4. a competition format in which participants are listed according to their skill l

4.名詞B2
釋義

a competition format in which participants are listed according to their skill level, and a player can rise by defeating someone placed higher

例句

After three straight wins, Rachid moved to the top of the club's table-tennis ladder.

collocation: top of the ladder (sports)

The squash ladder at the leisure centre has twenty players competing for higher positions.

同義詞
  • ranking list

    a more general term for any ordered list of competitors by skill

  • leaderboard

    shows the top-ranked players; often a subset of the full ladder

文法句型

the + sport + ladder

top/bottom of + the + ladder

用法筆記

Ladder systems are common in racket sports (squash, badminton, table tennis) and some video-game competitive modes. Unlike a knockout tournament, a ladder is always active — players can challenge and be challenged throughout a season.

ladder — verb