ladder vs system

ladder

noun
  • The hierarchy or ranking system within an organization, such as the corporate ladder. 

  • A length of unravelled fabric in a knitted garment, especially in nylon stockings; a run. 

  • A frame, usually portable, of wood, metal, or rope, used for ascent and descent, consisting of two side pieces to which are fastened rungs (cross strips or rounds acting as steps). 

  • A series of stages by which one progresses to a better position. 

  • In the game of go, a sequence of moves following a zigzag pattern and ultimately leading to the capture of the attacked stones. 

verb
  • Of a knitted garment: to develop a ladder as a result of a broken thread. 

  • To ascend (a building, a wall, etc.) using a ladder. 

  • To arrange or form into a shape of a ladder. 

  • To close in on a target with successive salvos, increasing or decreasing the shot range as necessary. 

system

noun
  • A collection of organized things; a whole composed of relationships among its members. 

  • A set of equations involving the same variables, which are to be solved simultaneously. 

  • A set of alters, or the multiple (“the individual with multiple personalities due to, for example, a dissociative personality disorder”) who contains them. 

  • Preceded by the word the: the mainstream culture, controlled by the elites or government of a state, or a combination of them, seen as oppressive to the individual. 

  • A set of staves linked by a brace that indicate instruments or sounds that are to be played simultaneously. 

  • A planetary system; a set of planets orbiting a star or star system 

  • A set of rules for a tabletop roleplaying game. 

  • A comprehensive and logically organized set of propositions or philosophical beliefs. 

  • A method or way of organizing or planning. 

  • A set of hardware and software operating in a computer. 

  • A set of body organs having a particular function. 

How often have the words ladder and system occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )