escalator

[es-kuh-ley-ter]

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.

adjective

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

   The union demands escalator protection of wages.

escalator

/ 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of escalator¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of escalator¹

C20: originally a trademark

Example Sentences

It’s like comparing a roller coaster to an escalator.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

On a visit to the Chicago store, Virginia Lee, a food-industry market researcher, watched customers descend the Whole Foods escalator, grabbing a Red Bull at Amazon Grocery on their way out.

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It corrupts the legal process, corrodes public faith in civic institutions, and invites further leaps up the partisan warfare escalator.

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But, as the UN made clear, the escalator suddenly stopped after a White House videographer accidentally triggered a safety mechanism.

Read more on Salon

Here’s where I imagine Norway leaning over and whispering to Oman, “At least our escalators work.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times