3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  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}. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  ladder 
  n  1:  two  parallel  members  connected  by  rungs;  for  climbing  up  or 
  down 
  2:  a  row  of  unravelled  stitches;  "she  got  a  run  in  her 
  stocking"  [syn:  {run},  {ravel}] 
  v  :  come  unraveled  or  undone  as  if  by  snagging,  of  stockings; 
  "Her  nylons  were  running"  [syn:  {run}] 
 
  From  Easton's  1897  Bible  Dictionary  [easton]: 
 
  Ladder 
  occurs  only  once,  in  the  account  of  Jacob's  vision  (Gen.  28:12). 
 

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