ladder vs tear

ladder

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

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

noun
  • 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. 

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

tear

verb
  • To make (an opening) with force or energy. 

  • To destroy or reduce abstract unity or coherence, such as social, political or emotional. 

  • To injure as if by pulling apart. 

  • To move or act with great speed, energy, or violence. 

  • To produce tears. 

  • To become torn, especially accidentally. 

  • To rend (a solid material) by holding or restraining in two places and pulling apart, whether intentionally or not; to destroy or separate. 

  • To remove by tearing. 

  • To smash or enter something with great force. 

  • To demolish 

noun
  • A rampage. 

  • A partially vitrified bit of clay in glass. 

  • A hole or break caused by tearing. 

  • A drop of clear, salty liquid produced from the eyes by crying or irritation. 

  • Something in the form of a transparent drop of fluid matter; also, a solid, transparent, tear-shaped drop, as of some balsams or resins. 

  • That which causes or accompanies tears; a lament; a dirge. 

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