ladder (ladders plural )
1 n-count A ladder is a piece of equipment used for climbing up something or down from something. It consists of two long pieces of wood, metal, or rope with steps fixed between them.
2 n-sing You can use the ladder to refer to something such as a society, organization, or system which has different levels that people can progress up or drop down.
If they want to climb the ladder of success they should be given that opportunity...
3 n-count A ladder is a hole or torn part in a woman's stocking or tights, where some of the vertical threads have broken, leaving only the horizontal threads.
(mainly BRIT)
in AM, use run
rope ladder (rope ladders plural ), rope-ladder A rope ladder is a ladder made of two long ropes connected by short pieces of rope, wood, or metal. n-count