escalator

From Escalator created by American inventor Charles Seeberger in 1900, from Latin e (“from", "out of”) + scala (“ladder”) + -or, which forms nouns of agency. Formerly a trademark. See: the appendix. Broader usage may be influenced by escalate. For an alternative etymology, see Online Etymology Dictionary.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈɛs.kə.leɪ.tə/
• (US) enPR: esʹkə-lā-tər, IPA^(key): /ˈɛs.kə.leɪ.tɚ/
• Hyphenation: es‧ca‧la‧tor

escalator (plural escalators)

1. A motor-driven mechanical device consisting of a continuous loop of steps that automatically conveys people from one floor to another.
2. An upward or progressive course.
   • 2009 February 19, Froma Harrop, “Housing aid may revive American dream for Latinos”, in Houston Chronicle:

     Lots of people fell for the pitch that real estate was an up-only escalator into the American Dream

3. An escalator clause.

   They agreed to a cost-of-living escalator.

• escalator clause

• escalate

• escalator on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• escalator on Wikimedia Commons.Wikimedia Commons
• movator
• moving pavement, moving sidewalk
• moving ramp
• moving walkway
• stairway
• step
• travelator

• acetarsol, crotalase

escalator m (plural escalators)

1. escalator

• IPA^(key): /ɛs.ka.la.tɔʁ/

Borrowed from English. Genericized trademark.