escalator
escalator Lexical Profile
escalator Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A moving staircase consisting of an endlessly circulating belt of steps driven by a motor, designed to convey people between the floors of a building.
"We decided to take the escalator to the third floor of the shopping mall instead of waiting for the crowded elevator."
A clause in a contract or lease providing for periodic automatic upward or downward adjustments of prices, wages, or other payments in response to changing economic conditions.
"The workers' union successfully negotiated a cost-of-living escalator in their new multi-year contract."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in 1900 by Charles Seeberger as a trademark for a moving staircase, created by blending the Latin word 'scala' (steps or ladder) with the English word 'elevator'. The term eventually lost its trademark status and became a genericized word, from which the verb 'escalate' was later back-formed.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.