rung

Climber's foot support

A rung is one of the horizontal bars forming the steps of a ladder.

By extension, rung describes any level in a hierarchy or progression: the bottom rung of the corporate ladder, climbing the rungs of success.

Separately, rung is the past participle of ring: The bells have rung.

ladder

climb

Ascend using effort

crosspieceBeam connecting two elements
stilesSteps for crossing barriers
woodenMade from timber

metal · aluminum · fiberglass · vertical · step · tread · foothold · handrail · extendable · folding

hierarchy

level

Horizontal or uniform position

tierHorizontal structural layer
echelonLevel within hierarchy
statusOne's relative position

grade · stratum · ranking · position · standing · class · seniority · order · station · precedence

bell

chime

Melodic bell sound

pealResonant ringing burst
tollFee for passage
clangLoud metallic sound

reverberation · sound · resonance · carillon · belfry · campanile · knell · vibration · echo · church

Categories

climbing holdscrimp, jug, sloper, pinch, pocket
irregular verbsbegin, began, begun, break, broke
hierarchiestier, tiers, level, levels, rank
hierarchyrank, ranked, authority, command, tiered
past participlesbeen, done, gone, seen, taken
rankingsrankings, first, college rankings, second, third

Opposites

ladder components

rungrail

Horizontal support bar

stile · side rail · upright · base · post

hierarchical position

rungtop

Uppermost part or surface

bottom · pinnacle · apex · summit · floor

bell action state

Not yet sounded

silenced · silent · muted · muffled · still

Phrases

rung trueSeemed honest and believable
rung upRecorded a sale
bottom rungLowest position on hierarchy
wooden rungs
rung outSounded forth resonantly
bell rung

Family

Familiarity: Top 20,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G