rung
n. countablen. one of the horizontal bars on a ladder that you step on to climb up or down.
n. a horizontal bar or step forming part of a ladder; metaphorically, a stage in a hierarchical scale or career path.
He placed his foot firmly on the bottom rung of the ladder.
She worked hard for years to move from an entry-level position to the next rung of the corporate ladder.
The safety inspector noted that the third rung was cracked and required immediate replacement to prevent a fall during the maintenance work.
From Middle English rung, from Old English hrung, from Proto-West Germanic hrungu, from Proto-Germanic hrungō. Cognate with Dutch rong (“pole, stanchion”), German Runge (“stake, pole, stanchion”), Gothic 𐌷𐍂𐌿𐌲𐌲𐌰 (hrugga, “a staff”).
See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.
Often used figuratively with 'the' and 'of' to describe progress in a career or social hierarchy.