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escalation

 - 3 dictionary results

es⋅ca⋅late

  [es-kuh-leyt]
Use escalation in a Sentence
–verb (used with object), verb (used without object), -lat⋅ed, -lat⋅ing.
1. to increase in intensity, magnitude, etc.: to escalate a war; a time when prices escalate.
2. to raise, lower, rise, or descend on or as if on an escalator.
Origin:
1920–25; back formation from escalator

Related forms:
es⋅ca⋅la⋅tion, noun
es⋅ca⋅la⋅to⋅ry  [es-kuh-luh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] , adjective

Synonyms:
1. advance, mount, swell.

Antonyms:
1. lower, decrease, fall.

Pronunciation note:
See percolate.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To escalation
es·ca·late   (ěs'kə-lāt')   
v.   es·ca·lat·ed, es·ca·lat·ing, es·ca·lates

v.   tr.
To increase, enlarge, or intensify: escalated the hostilities in the Persian Gulf.
v.   intr.
To increase in intensity or extent: "a deepening long-term impasse that is certain to escalate" (Stewart L. Udall).

[Back-formation from escalator.]
es'ca·la'tion n., es'ca·la·to'ry (-lə-tôr'ē, -tōr'ē) adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Cultural Dictionary

escalation

An increase in the intensity or geographical scope of a war or diplomatic confrontation. For example, during the Korean War, some Americans urged escalation of the war through bombing of the People's Republic of China.

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
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