Jacob's ladder

Ja·cob's ladder  (jkbz)

n.

1. Nautical A rope or chain ladder with rigid rungs.

2. Any of various plants of the genus Polemonium, especially P. caeruleum, having blue flowers and alternate, pinnately compound leaves with numerous leaflets.

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[From the ladder seen by the biblical patriarch Jacob in a dream (Genesis 28:12).]

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Jacob's ladder

n

1. (Christian Religious Writings / Bible) Old Testament the ladder reaching up to heaven that Jacob saw in a dream (Genesis 28:12-17)

2. (Transport / Nautical Terms) Also called jack ladder a ladder made of wooden or metal steps supported by ropes or chains

3. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Plants) a North American polemoniaceous plant, Polemonium caeruleum, with blue flowers and a ladder-like arrangement of leaves

4. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Plants) any of several similar or related plants

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	Jacob's ladder - pinnate-leaved European perennial having bright blue or white flowers Polemonium caeruleum, Polemonium van-bruntiae, Polymonium caeruleum van-bruntiae, Greek valerian, charity polemonium - any plant of the genus Polemonium; most are low-growing often foul-smelling plants of temperate to Arctic regions
	2.	Jacob's ladder - (nautical) a hanging ladder of ropes or chains supporting wooden or metal rungs or steps jack ladder, pilot ladder sailing, seafaring, navigation - the work of a sailor ladder - steps consisting of two parallel members connected by rungs; for climbing up or down