escalator

American  

[es-kuh-ley-ter] / ˈɛs kəˌleɪ tər /

noun

1. a continuously moving staircase on an endless loop for carrying passengers up or down.

2. a means of rising or descending, increasing or decreasing, etc., especially by stages.

   the social escalator.

3. escalator clause.

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or included in an escalator clause.

   The union demands escalator protection of wages.

escalator British  

/ ˈɛskəˌleɪtə /

noun

1. a moving staircase consisting of stair treads fixed to a conveyor belt, for transporting passengers between levels, esp between the floors of a building

2. short for escalator clause

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Etymology

Origin of escalator

An Americanism first recorded in 1895–1900; formerly a trademark; perhaps escal(ade) + (elev)ator

Explanation

An escalator is a motorized stairway that moves people up and down flights. When you get on an escalator, you can stand still and let it carry you. If you want to really annoy the people behind you, stand to the left on the escalator and block their passage. It's common for shopping malls, airports, and other large, public buildings to provide escalators as a way for people to get from one floor to another. An escalator works by moving a large belt of linked steps with a motor — each step seems to disappear as it moves parallel with the floor at your destination. In 1900, the Otis Elevator Company coined the word escalator, from escalade, "use ladders to scale a wall."

Example Sentences

The roped climbers were ascending Mount Johnson, an 8,400-foot peak, along a route known as the Escalator, a steep and technical alpine climb on the peak’s southeast face.

From New York Times • Apr. 27, 2024

If a word becomes too much of a generic term, companies risk losing their trademark — as happened for Escalator, which was originally a name brand of escalators.

From The Verge • Feb. 19, 2020

After disbanding the Rumour following the 1980 album, "The Up Escalator," Parker moved to New York's Catskills region and has steadily written, recorded and performed.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 6, 2012

Escalator Over the Hill, and all the many representations of Bley's idiosyncratic eloquence since, are enduring proof of her value.

From The Guardian • Jan. 18, 2011

A double row of Escalator Fives Courts lined the main road from Notting Hill to Willesden.

From "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley