rungs
Crossbars for climbing
Rungs are the horizontal crosspieces of a ladder—the bars you step on while climbing.
The word extends to any similar crossbar, as on a chair.
Figuratively, rungs mark positions in a hierarchy: She climbed the corporate ladder one rung at a time.
The bottom rung is where you start; the top rung is where you aim to be.
Forward movement or promotion
- promotionRank increase or publicity
- climbAscend using effort
- ascentUpward movement
- corporateOf or relating to companies
career · social · status · progression · levels · ranks · echelons · tiers
Bars laid across supports
- horizontalParallel to the horizon
- stilesSteps for crossing barriers
- railsGuiding metal bars
- spacingInterval arrangement between objects
tread · footing · wooden · metal · fiberglass · bracing · stability · support
Sport of climbing peaks
- ascenderOne moving upward
- harnessStraps controlling an animal
- gripSecure manual hold
- footholdStable position for advancement
handhold · rappelling · rigging · ship · mast · crow's-nest · maritime · scrambling
advancement
Forward movement or promotion
corporate · career · social · status · progression · levels · ranks · echelons · tiers · seniority
crosspieces
Bars laid across supports
- horizontalParallel to the horizon
- stilesSteps for crossing barriers
- railsGuiding metal bars
spacing · tread · footing · wooden · metal · fiberglass · bracing · stability · support · traction
mountaineering
Sport of climbing peaks
foothold · handhold · rappelling · rigging · ship · mast · crow's-nest · maritime · scrambling · vertical
- rung trueSeemed honest and believable
- rung upRecorded a sale
- bottom rungLowest position on hierarchy
- wooden rungs
- rung outSounded forth resonantly
- bell rung