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| Date: | 1200-1300 |
| Language: | Old North French |
| Origin: | escaper, from Vulgar Latin excappare, from Late Latin cappa 'head-covering'; from the idea of throwing off something that limits your movement |
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es‧cape1 S3 W2
1 to get away from a place or dangerous situation when someone is trying to catch you or stop you : 
He broke down the locked door and escaped.
person/place
[intransitive]He broke down the locked door and escaped.2 to get away from a dangerous or bad situation They went to the hills to escape the summer heat.
danger
[intransitive and transitive]They went to the hills to escape the summer heat. escape somebody's clutches (=escape from someone) The youth was trying to escape the clutches of two drunken female companions.
The youth was trying to escape the clutches of two drunken female companions.3 to avoid something bad or that you do not want to happen :
avoid
[intransitive and transitive]4 if gas, liquid, light, heat etc escapes from somewhere, it comes out : Vents allow any steam to escape if the system overheats.
gas/liquid etc
[intransitive]Vents allow any steam to escape if the system overheats.5 if a sound escapes from someone, they accidentally make that sound : A small laugh escaped her.
sound
[intransitive and transitive] literaryA small laugh escaped her.6 if something escapes your attention or notice, you do not see it or realize that it is there
escape somebody's attention/notice
7 used to say that someone cannot remember something : For some reason which escapes me, we had to take a taxi.
the name/date/title etc escapes somebody
For some reason which escapes me, we had to take a taxi.8 used to emphasize that something is definitely important or will definitely happen : There's no escaping the fact that work has profound effects on emotions and health.
there's no escaping (the fact)
There's no escaping the fact that work has profound effects on emotions and health.