English Explanatory Dictionary

escalator

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Anything that escalates.
  2. A motor-driven mechanical device consisting of a continuous loop of steps that automatically conveys people from one floor to another.
  3. An upward or progressive course.
  4. An escalator clause.
verb
  1. To move by escalator.

Pronunciation

/ˈɛs.kə.leɪ.tə/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-escalator.wav esʹkə-lā-tər /ˈɛs.kə.leɪ.tɚ/

Word forms

escalator escalators escalatoring escalatored

Etymology

From the former trademark Escalator, created by American inventor Charles Seeberger in 1900, from Latin ē- (“from, out of”) + scala (“ladder”) + -tor, which forms nouns of agency; see the appendix. Broader usage may be influenced by its derivative escalate, by surface analysis, escalate + -or. For an alternative etymology, see the Online Etymology Dictionary.

Synonyms

moving staircase escalate

Related words

escalate movator moving pavement moving sidewalk moving ramp moving walkway stairway step travelator

Derived words

downalator escalator barrel escalator clause escalator school escalefter
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