1 a piece of equipment that is used for climbing up sth. A ladder consists of two long pieces of metal, wood or rope with steps fixed between them 梯子 (figurative 比喻) to climb the ladder of success 爬上成功的阶梯 ☞Look at stepladder. 参看stepladder。

2 (US 美 run) a long hole in the thin pieces of clothing that women wear to cover their legs (tights)or(stockings), where the threads have broken （裤袜或长筒袜）脱线，抽丝: Oh no! I've got a ladder in my tights. 哎呀！我的裤袜脱了线。 ladder verb [I,T]