ladder

a piece of equipment with two long pieces that you hold and a series of steps between them, used for climbing up or down something high such as the side of a building

escalera, andamiaje

• a ladder against sth

Collocations climb up/down a ladder · lean a ladder against the wall

• He climbed down the ladder.

  Él descendió por la escalera.

a position in a series of ranks or levels, especially in an organization such as the army or police force

rango, grado

• be promoted to a higher/lower ladder

Collocations climb the corporate ladder · move up/down the ladder

• She has climbed the career ladder quickly.

  Ella ha ascendido rápid-amente por la escalera profesional.

a game in which players try to reach the top of a ladder by throwing small objects along it, or move up and down the rungs according to the rules of the game

juego de escalera

• play a ladder game

Collocations throw a beanbag up/down the ladder · move up/down the rungs of the ladder

• They played a ladder game at the party.

  Jugaron un juego de escalera en la fiesta.

a diagram showing how different things are connected, especially in a family tree or organization chart

diagrama, esquema

• draw a ladder

Collocations draw a family tree ladder · show the connections in a ladder diagram

• The company drew up a ladder showing all its departments.

  La empresa dibujó un esquema mostrando todos sus departamentos.

a sport in which players try to reach the top of a ladder by throwing small objects along it, or move up and down the rungs according to the rules of the game

deporte de escalera

• play a ladder sport

Collocations throw a ball up/down the ladder · move up/down the rungs of the ladder in competition

• They played a ladder sport at the sports day.

  Jugaron un deporte de escalera en el día del deporte.

a metaphorical reference to a ladder, often used in idiomatic expressions or proverbs

metáfora de escalera

• climb the ladder of success

Collocations reach the top of the ladder · fall down the ladder

• He climbed the ladder of success to become a CEO.

  Él ascendió por la escalera del éxito para convertirse en director ejecutivo.

a device used in music, such as a ladder of notes or tones

escala musical

• play the ladder

Collocations climb up/down the ladder of notes · move along the rungs of the ladder in music

• The musician played a ladder of notes.

  El músico tocó una escala musical.

a device or structure used in art, such as a ladder for painting murals on high walls

andamiaje para pintar

• use the ladder

Collocations climb up/down the ladder to paint a mural · move along the rungs of the ladder in art

• The artist used a ladder to reach high walls.

  El artista usó un andamiaje para alcanzar las paredes altas.