ladder

nouns

steps consisting of two parallel members connected by rungs; for climbing up or down
ladder
is a type of (narrower)
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
stairs, steps
ascending stages by which somebody or something can progress
"he climbed the career ladder"
ladder
is a type of (narrower)
a specific identifiable position in a continuum or series or especially in a process
"a remarkable degree of frankness"; "at what stage are the social sciences?"
degree, level, point, stage
a row of unravelled stitches
"she got a run in her stocking"
ladder, ravel, run

verbs

come unraveled or undone as if by snagging
"Her nylons were running"
ladder, run