fire escape

noun

Updated on: 15 Apr 2018

Definition of fire escape

: a device for escape from a burning building; especially : a metal stairway attached to the outside of a building

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Recent Examples of fire escape from the Web

On average, families have about two minutes to escape during a home fire so having working smoke alarms and a fire escape plan can make all the difference.

— michelle jenkins, idahostatesman, "Event aims to bring stigma-free awareness to mental health | Idaho Statesman," 10 Apr. 2018
The alley is lined with more than four dozen dumpsters and surrounded by two tall buildings, one of which has fire escapes mounted on its side.

— jeremy gorner, chicagotribune.com, "Robberies spike in the Loop, other downtown areas in 2018; homicides drop," 30 Mar. 2018
Since all the doors were kept locked, there was no means of escape outside of a single set of stairs, a narrow and flimsy fire escape, and a slow, small elevator that, as WNYC reported, quickly broke down.

— kim kelly, Teen Vogue, "Demonstrators Remembered the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire," 26 Mar. 2018
The Blakes were the last family to descend a fire escape at the back of the building.

— written by luis ferrÉ-sadurnÍ; photographs by sarah blesener, New York Times, "Finding a Home After a Fire: ‘It Feels Like Your Life Is on Pause’," 23 Mar. 2018
The Accord and Alliance report that over 80% of factory safety issues identified in safety inspections, such as inadequate fire escapes and dangerous electric wiring, have been fixed.

— jon emont, WSJ, "Five Years After Tragedy, Big Retailers Say Bangladesh Factories Aren’t Safe Enough," 29 Mar. 2018
As the fire consumed everything — and everyone — in its path, onlookers were horrified at the sight of dozens of young women crowding onto the rickety fire escape looking desperately for an exit.

— kim kelly, Teen Vogue, "Demonstrators Remembered the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire," 26 Mar. 2018
Developers were also permitted to claim certain building spaces like stairways, elevators, fire escapes, and fire refuge areas—typically small spaces every few floors—as exempt from the square-footage calculations.

— anjali kamat, The New Republic, "Political Corruption and the Art of the Deal," 21 Mar. 2018
There was a problem with these exterior fire escapes, however.

— pippa biddle, The Atlantic, "Fire Escapes Are Evocative, But Mostly Useless," 25 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fire escape.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of fire escape

1725

in the meaning defined above

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FIRE ESCAPE Defined for English Language Learners

fire escape

noun

Definition of fire escape for English Language Learners

: a stairway or ladder that can be used to escape from a burning building

FIRE ESCAPE Defined for Kids

fire escape

noun

Definition of fire escape for Students

: a stairway that provides a way of escape from a building in case of fire

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See words that rhyme with fire escape Spanish Central: Translation of fire escape Nglish: Translation of fire escape for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about fire escape

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