1. a horizontal support on a ladder for a person's foot.
▪ a level in a hierarchical structure, especially a class or career structure: "we must ensure that the low-skilled do not get trapped on the bottom rung"
2. a strengthening crosspiece in the structure of a chair.
Word OriginOld Englishhrung (in rung1 (sense 2)); related to Dutch rong and German Runge.