escalator

[ es-kuh-ley-ter ]
/ ˈɛs kəˌleɪ tər /

noun

Also called moving staircase, moving stairway. a continuously moving stairway on an endless loop for carrying passengers up or down.
a means of rising or descending, increasing or decreasing, etc., especially by stages: the social escalator.

adjective

of, relating to, or included in an escalator clause: The union demands escalator protection of wages.

Origin of escalator

1895–1900, Americanism; formerly a trademark; perhaps escal(ade) + (elev)ator

Example sentences from the Web for escalator

British Dictionary definitions for escalator

escalator
/ (ˈɛskəˌleɪtə) /

noun

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

Word Origin for escalator

C20: originally a trademark