ladder

柯林斯词典

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. 梯子
He climbed the ladder to the next deck. 他登上梯子爬到了上一层甲板。
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. 阶梯
If they want to climb the ladder of success they should be given that opportunity. 如果他们想攀登成功的阶梯，他们应该被给与那个机会。
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. (长筒丝袜等的) 脱丝[英国英语]
I had a ladder in my stocking. 我的长筒袜有抽丝了。

Getting up the ladder was easy enough - it was coming down that was the problem .
The ladder won't quite reach the top of the wall .
My son broke a rib when he fell off a ladder.
That ladder doesn't look safe .
One of the steps on the ladder is broken .