one of the bars that forms a step in a ladder (梯子的)横档,梯级 He put his foot on the bottom rung to keep the ladder steady. 他用脚踩住最底下的横档稳住梯子。 She climbed the last few rungs of the ladder. 她爬上了梯子的最后几级。 - (figurative)
to get a foot on the bottom rung of the career ladder 从事业阶梯的最低等级开始 - (figurative)
She was a few rungs above him on the social ladder. 她的社会地位比他高了好几等。
Word OriginOld English hrung (originally referring to a part of a chair); related to Dutch rong and German Runge.