An escalator is a moving staircase on which people can go from one level of a building to another.
escalator in British English
(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 origin
C20: originally a trademark
escalator in American English
(ˈɛskəˌleɪtər)
US
noun
1.
a moving stairway consisting of treads linked in an endless belt, used in department stores, subway stations, etc.
2.
escalator clause
Word origin
coined as a trademark (1895) < escalade + -tor, as in elevator
Examples of 'escalator' in a sentence
escalator
Walk up stairs at work or in the shops instead of taking the lift or escalator.
Munro, Bill Dr. & Munro, Frances Beat Stress (1992)
The motor car takes us to the shops where lifts and escalators save us climbing stairs.
Whiteside, Dr Mike Banish Headaches -how to obtain fast, drug-free relief from headache (1990)
He wondered if the club would consider installing a lift or escalator.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
If you're standing behind said person on a staircase or an escalator, ditto.