1
- a structure consisting of a series of bars or steps between two upright lengths of wood, metal, or rope, used for climbing up or down something梯子。
1.1
- figurative a series of ascending stages by which someone or something may advance or progress〈喻〉（人或事物）逐步发展或上升的阶梯; 进身之阶：
employees on their way up the career ladder.
在事业阶梯上上升的雇员。
1.2
- Brit. a vertical strip of unravelled fabric in tights or stockings〈英〉（紧身衣或长筒袜的）（纵向）抽丝。
with obj.
1- Brit. cause (tights or stockings) to develop a ladder〈英〉使（紧身衣, 长筒袜）抽丝：
as adj. laddered her dress was crumpled and her tights were laddered.她的连衣裙皱巴巴的, 紧身衣也抽了丝。
1.1
- no obj.(of tights or stockings) develop a ladder（紧身衣, 长筒袜）出现抽丝。
词源
Old English hlǣd（d）er, of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch leer and German Leiter.