escapement

[ ih-skeyp-muh nt ]
/ ɪˈskeɪp mənt /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR escapement ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

Horology. the portion of a watch or clock that measures beats and controls the speed of the going train. Compare anchor escapement, deadbeat(def 1), lever escapement.
a mechanism for regulating the motion of a typewriter carriage, consisting of pawls and a toothed wheel or rack.
a mechanism in a piano that causes a hammer to fall back into rest position immediately after striking a string.
an act of escaping.
Archaic. a way of escape; outlet.

Origin of escapement

1730–40; escape + -ment (calque of French échappement

Words nearby escapement

escape shaft, escape velocity, escape wheel, escaped ventricular contraction, escapee, escapement, escapement error, escapeway, escapism, escapologist, escapology

Words related to escapement

flight, evasion, getaway, breakout, exodus

Example sentences from the Web for escapement

British Dictionary definitions for escapement

escapement
/ (ɪˈskeɪpmənt) /

noun

horology a mechanism consisting of an escape wheel and anchor, used in timepieces to provide periodic impulses to the pendulum or balance
any similar mechanism that regulates movement, usually consisting of toothed wheels engaged by rocking levers
(in a piano) the mechanism that allows the hammer to clear the string after striking, so that the string can vibrate
an overflow channel
rare an act or means of escaping