escalate

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

Back-formation from escalator.

[edit] Pronunciation

• (UK, US) enPR: esʹ kə lāt, IPA: /ˈɛs.kə.leɪt/

[edit] Verb

to escalate (third-person singular simple present escalates, present participle escalating, simple past and past participle escalated) (transitive and intransitive)

1. to increase (something) in extent or intensity; to intensify or step up

   Violence escalated during the election.

   The shooting escalated the existing hostility.

2. in technical support, to transfer a telephone caller to the next higher level of authority

   The tech 1 escalated the caller to a tech 2.

[edit] Translations

[edit] Derived terms

• deescalate

[edit] Related terms

• escalator