rung
1 Americanverb
noun
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one of the crosspieces, usually rounded, forming the steps of a ladder.
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a rounded or shaped piece fixed horizontally, for strengthening purposes, as between the legs of a chair.
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a spoke of a wheel.
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a stout stick, rod, or bar, especially one of rounded section, forming a piece in something framed or constructed.
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a stage in a scale, level in a hierarchy, etc.; degree.
He rose a few rungs in the company.
noun
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one of the bars or rods that form the steps of a ladder
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a crosspiece between the legs of a chair, etc
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nautical a spoke on a ship's wheel or a handle projecting from the periphery
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dialect a cudgel or staff
verb
Other Word Forms
- rungless adjective
Etymology
Origin of rung
before 1000; Middle English; Old English hrung; cognate with Gothic hrunga rod, German Runge
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
An alarm bell has been rung by one of Wall Street’s most prominent strategists.
From MarketWatch
He insisted that everyone push a foot away from the table, tuck their feet into their chair rungs, and raise their hands.
From Literature
It also turns its gaze to those assigned to the lower rungs of the colonial social order - dancing girls, agricultural labourers, barbers and snake charmers.
From BBC
His ears had rung for twenty-four hours after the ten-minute pounding.
From Literature
“We’ll use the roots like rungs on a ladder. You go first. Hang on tight to a root and I’ll help you get your feet up.”
From Literature
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
