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Fence vs Ladder - What's the difference?

fence | ladder |

In figuratively terms the difference between fence and ladder

is that fence is a barrier, for example an emotional barrier while ladder is a series of stages by which one progresses to a better position.

As nouns the difference between fence and ladder

is that fence is a thin, human-constructed barrier which separates two pieces of land or a house perimeter while ladder is a frame, usually portable, of wood, metal, or rope, used for ascent and descent, consisting of two side pieces to which are fastened rungs: cross strips or rounds acting as steps.

As verbs the difference between fence and ladder

is that fence is to enclose, contain or separate by building fence while ladder is to ascend a building or wall using a ladder.

fence

English

(wikipedia fence)

Noun

(en noun)
  • A thin, human-constructed barrier which separates two pieces of land or a house perimeter.
  • *1865 , (Horatio Alger), , Ch.XVII:
  • *:There was a weak place in the fence separating the two inclosures
  • *{{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-08, volume=407, issue=8839, page=52, magazine=(The Economist)
  • , title= The new masters and commanders , passage=From the ground, Colombo’s port does not look like much. Those entering it are greeted by wire fences , walls dating back to colonial times and security posts. For mariners leaving the port after lonely nights on the high seas, the delights of the B52 Night Club and Stallion Pub lie a stumble away.}}
  • A middleman for transactions of stolen goods.
  • *
  • *:The Bat—they called him the Bat.. He'd never been in stir, the bulls had never mugged him, he didn't run with a mob, he played a lone hand, and fenced his stuff so that even the fence couldn't swear he knew his face.
  • #The place whence such a middleman operates.
  • Skill in oral debate.
  • The art or practice of fencing.
  • *1599 , (William Shakespeare), ,
  • *:I bruised my shin th' other day with playing at sword and dagger with a master of fence
  • A guard or guide on machinery.
  • (lb) A barrier, for example an emotional barrier.
  • *1980 , (ABBA), (The Winner Takes It All)
  • I was in your arms / Thinking I belonged there
  • A memory barrier.
  • Synonyms

    * (middleman) pawn * (place where a middleman operates) pawn shop

    Derived terms

    * catch fence * electric fence * fencepost * fencing * good fences make good neighbors * picket fence

    See also

    * wire netting * wire gauze

    Verb

    (fenc)
  • (lb) To enclose, contain or separate by building fence.
  • *(William Shakespeare) (c.1564–1616)
  • *:O thou wall!dive in the earth, / And fence not Athens.
  • *(William Shakespeare) (c.1564–1616)
  • *:a sheepcote fenced about with olive trees
  • *1856 , , ,
  • *:Here are twenty acres of land, and it is all you can properly farm, unless you have more help than yourself. Now fence and cultivate it, and you can make an abundant living.
  • (lb) To defend or guard.
  • *(John Milton) (1608-1674)
  • *:To fence my ear against thy sorceries.
  • (lb) To engage in the selling or buying of stolen goods.
  • *
  • *:The Bat—they called him the Bat.. He'd never been in stir, the bulls had never mugged him, he didn't run with a mob, he played a lone hand, and fenced his stuff so that even the fence couldn't swear he knew his face.
  • To engage in (the sport) fencing.
  • *1921 , (Rafael Sabatini), ,
  • *:Challenges are flying right and left between these bully-swordsmen, these spadassinicides, and poor devils of the robe who have never learnt to fence with anything but a quill.
  • To jump over a fence.
  • Synonyms

    * (to sell or buy stolen goods) pawn

    ladder

    English

    Alternative forms

    * (dialectal)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A frame, usually portable, of wood, metal, or rope, used for ascent and descent, consisting of two side pieces to which are fastened rungs: cross strips or rounds acting as steps.
  • (figuratively) A series of stages by which one progresses to a better position.
  • * '>citation
  • # The hierarchy or ranking system within an organization, e.g. the corporate ladder.
  • (chiefly, British) A length of unravelled fabric in a knitted garment, especially in nylon stockings; a run.
  • In the game of go, a sequence of moves following a zigzag pattern and ultimately leading to the capture of the attacked stones.
  • Usage notes

    * For stockings touted as resistant to ladders, the phrase “ladder resist” is used in the UK. The American equivalent is “run resistant”.

    Synonyms

    * (frame for ascent and descent) stepladder * (unravelled fabric) run (qualifier)

    Derived terms

    * aerial ladder * companion ladder * corporate ladder * DNA ladder * laddered * laddering * rope ladder * scaling ladder * stepladder

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (firefighting) To ascend a building or wall using a ladder.
  • * 1998 , John Norman, Fire Officer's Handbook of Tactics , ISBN 0912212721, page 164,
  • A good working knowledge of the ladder parts, how they work, their capacities, and proper usage are a must before anyone is sent out to ladder a building.
  • (of a knitted garment) To develop a as a result of a broken thread.
  • Anagrams

    * * 1000 English basic words ----