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 ( def ).

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

Drought has withered the palms, and the escalators are still.

From Los Angeles Times

By the time Trump had glided down his golden escalator to announce his candidacy a year earlier, the nation was accustomed to rancor and sharpening divisions.

From Los Angeles Times

Giuliani's speech carried echoes of Trump's presidential run announcement, in which he rode down an escalator to call Mexicans "criminals" and "rapists" before adding that "some of them, I'm sure, are good people."

From Salon

After descending down a gold escalator at Trump Tower, the site of his family’s penthouse that was their primary residence until 2019, Trump announced his White House bid.

From Los Angeles Times

I raced through the terminal and up the escalator, two steps at a time, with a carry-on and boots that were not made for running.

From Los Angeles Times