es·ca·late/`ɛskəˏlet; ˈeskəleɪt/ v 1 [I,T] if violence or a war escalates or is escalated, it quickly becomes worse （使）〔暴力行为或战争〕升级，扩大: Fighting has escalated in several areas. 好几个地区内战斗正在加剧。 2 [I] if prices escalate, they increase 〔价格〕上涨，上升: escalating interest rates 不断上涨的利率