Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A mechanism consisting in general of an escape wheel and an anchor, used especially in timepieces to control movement of the wheel and to provide periodic energy impulses to a pendulum or balance.
  • noun A mechanism, as in a typewriter, that controls the lateral movement of the carriage.
  • noun An escape.
  • noun A means or way of escape.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun In pianoforte-making, that part of the action which provides that the hammer, after striking the string, shall instantly recoil, whether or not the key is released.
  • noun The act of escaping; escape.
  • noun The general contrivance in a timepiece by which the pressure of the wheels (which move always in one direction) and the vibratory motion of the pendulum or balancewheel are accommodated the one to the other.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun rare The act of escaping; escape.
  • noun rare Way of escape; vent.
  • noun The contrivance in a timepiece which connects the train of wheel work with the pendulum or balance, giving to the latter the impulse by which it is kept in vibration; -- so called because it allows a tooth to escape from a pallet at each vibration.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun The contrivance in a timepiece (winding wrist watch) which connects the train of wheel work with the pendulum or balance, giving to the latter the impulse by which it is kept in vibration; -- so called because it allows a tooth to escape from a pallet at each vibration.
  • noun a mechanism found in devices such as a typewriter or printer which controls lateral motion of the carriage
  • noun an escape or means of escape

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun mechanical device that regulates movement

Etymologies

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Examples

  • The escapement is a conventional in-line Swiss lever type, but with all parts made from plastic, excepting the impulse pin.

    Boing Boing: November 5, 2006 - November 11, 2006 Archives 2006

  • The scientists also said that fishery management played a role in the low numbers of returning salmon - "escapement" - in 2007.

    Indybay newswire 2009

  • The escapement is the regulating organ of the watch, and at the heart of this new creation, the constant escapement is a blade of silicium, finer than a human hair.

    Style: Timing Is Everything 2008

  • Then I removed its escapement, which is the mechanism which controls its speed.

    Modern Mechanix 2009

  • And the Jorgensens who face the prospect of a conveyor belt over their heads dumping toxic coal that has an "escapement" into the environment of seven pounds per hour per acre of development?

    Jeanne Devon ("AKMuckraker"): Chuitna and the Curse of Coal "AKMuckraker" 2010

  • And the Jorgensens who face the prospect of a conveyor belt over their heads dumping toxic coal that has an "escapement" into the environment of seven pounds per hour per acre of development?

    Jeanne Devon ("AKMuckraker"): Chuitna and the Curse of Coal "AKMuckraker" 2010

  • And the Jorgensens who face the prospect of a conveyor belt over their heads dumping toxic coal that has an "escapement" into the environment of seven pounds per hour per acre of development?

    Jeanne Devon ("AKMuckraker"): Chuitna and the Curse of Coal Jeanne Devon ( 2010

  • Here a consensus on 'escapement' (the number of fish allowed to avoid capture and thus spawn) in combination with a participatory process of community involvement has been very successful at sustaining populations, and sharing the catch.

    innovations-report 2008

  • "escapement," or the freedom to get back to the ocean from the rivers, is considered vital to their survival in quantity.

    The Bounty of the Chesapeake Fishing in Colonial Virginia James Wharton

  • The new model is equipped with the brands co-axial escapement invented by the late George Daniels, which, according to the company, delivers greater accuracy and needs fewer regular services.

    An Icon That Withstands the Test of Time Michael Clerizo 2011

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