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.
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.
A rank in a taxonomic classification below species and (if present) subspecies, and above form; hence, an organism of that rank.
The total number of distinct states of a system; also, the logarithm to the base 2 of the total number of distinct states of a system.
An animal or plant (or a group of such animals or plants) with characteristics causing it to differ from other animals or plants of the same species; a cultivar.
In universal algebra: an equational class; the class of all algebraic structures of a given signature, satisfying a given set of identities.
A specific form of a language, neutral to whether that form is an accent, dialect, register, etc., and to its prestige level; an isolect or lect.
A collection or number of different things.
The kind of entertainment given in variety performances or shows; also, the production of, or performance in, variety performances or shows.
A deviation or difference.
A stamp, or set of stamps, which has one or more characteristics (such as colour, paper, etc.) differing from other stamps in the same issue, especially if such differences are intentionally introduced.
The quality of being varied; diversity.
A specific variation of something.