laddered

1. 1
   verb

   Simple past and past participle of ladder.

   The adviser laddered the client's certificates of deposit across five maturities.

   Having laddered her bond holdings, she could reinvest a portion every year.

   Note

   One regular -ed spelling serves every use of the verb: as a past tense (her tights laddered) and after have (they had laddered). Context decides which ladder is meant. A knitted garment that laddered split along a broken thread, a wall that was laddered was scaled, and in British slang guns laddered onto a target with successive salvos. Before a noun it settles into the adjective for damaged hosiery, which takes more and most.

2. 2
   adjective

   Having a ladder (a vertical line where stitches have come undone) as in a stocking or pair of tights.

   She tossed the laddered stockings in the trash and reached for a fresh pair.

   A single laddered tight ruined an otherwise flawless outfit.

   Similartorn, snagged

   Oppositeintact

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