ladder
n 1: steps consisting of two parallel members connected by rungs;
for climbing up or down
2: ascending stages by which somebody or something can
progress; "he climbed the career ladder"
3: a row of unravelled stitches; "she got a run in her
stocking" [syn: {run}, {ravel}]
v : come unraveled or undone as if by snagging; "Her nylons were
running" [syn: {run}]
Source: WordNet® 2.0