escape

verb

• 1 [no object] break free from confinement or control:two burglars have just escaped from prison (as adjective escaped)escaped convicts
• [with object] elude or get free from (someone):he drove along the dual carriageway to escape police
• succeed in avoiding or eluding something dangerous or unpleasant:the driver escaped with a broken knee [with object]:a baby boy narrowly escaped death
• (of a gas, liquid, or heat) leak from a container:the CFCs have escaped into the atmosphere
• [with object] (of words or sounds) issue involuntarily or inadvertently from (someone):a sob escaped her lips

• 2 [with object] fail to be noticed or remembered by (someone):the name escaped him it may have escaped your notice, but this is not a hotel

• 3 [with object] Computing interrupt (an operation) by means of the escape key.
• cause (a subsequent character or characters) to be interpreted differently.

noun

• 1an act of breaking free from confinement or control:the gang had made their escape [mass noun]:he could think of no way of escape, short of rudeness
• an act of avoiding something dangerous or unpleasant:the baby was fine, but it was a lucky escape
• a means of escaping from somewhere: [as modifier]:he had planned his escape route
• a garden plant or pet animal that has gone wild and (especially in plants) become naturalized: it is not a native of Britain, though often occurring as an escape

• 2a form of temporary distraction from reality or routine:romantic novels should present an escape from the dreary realities of life

• 3a leakage of gas, liquid, or heat from a container: a lid prevents the escape of poisonous gases [with modifier]:a gas escape

• 4 (also escape key) Computing a key on a computer keyboard which either interrupts the current operation or causes subsequent characters to be interpreted differently.