Jacob's ladder

US: ( jā′kəbz lad′ər)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

Ja′cob's lad′der, 

1. Bible a ladder seen by Jacob in a dream, reaching from the earth to heaven. Gen. 28:12.
2. Nautical
   • Naval Terms Also called jack ladder, pilot ladder. a hanging ladder having ropes or chains supporting wooden or metal rungs or steps.
   • Naval Terms any ladderlike arrangement aloft other than one of rattled shrouds.

Ja•cob's-lad•der  ( jā′kəbz lad′ər), n. 

1. Plant Biology any of various plants belonging to the genus Polemonium, of the phlox family, esp. P. caeruleum (or P. van-bruntiae), having blue, cup-shaped flowers and paired leaflets in a ladderlike arrangement.

• 1725–35

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

Jacob's ladder noun

1. the ladder reaching up to heaven that Jacob saw in a dream (Genesis 28:12–17)
2. Also called: jack ladder a ladder made of wooden or metal steps supported by ropes or chains
3. a North American polemoniaceous plant, Polemonium caeruleum, with blue flowers and a ladder-like arrangement of leaves