Escapement
//ɪˈskeɪpmənt// noun
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The linkage in a (watch) that gives impulses to the timekeeping element and periodically releases the gear train to move forward, advancing the clock's hands.
"The escapement is the reason why clocks tick."
- 2 mechanical device that regulates movement wordnet
- 3 A mechanism found in devices such as a typewriter or printer which controls lateral motion of the carriage.
- 4 An escape or a means of escape.
- 5 The number of fish that escape commercial fishing operations and travel upstream to spawn.
"Importantly, there are also extensive practical difficulties associated with gathering and interpreting accurate escapement and run-size information and applying it to population management."
Example
More examples"The escapement is the reason why clocks tick."
Etymology
From escape + -ment. The watch component is so called because it allows a tooth to escape from a pallet at each vibration.
Related phrases
More for "escapement"
Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.