esc
esc — abbreviation
1. a short written form of 'escape', used on signs, maps, or emergency plans to sho
a short written form of 'escape', used on signs, maps, or emergency plans to show how people can get out of a building or dangerous area.
The bright green sign above the door said 'ESC' in white letters.
written abbreviation on signs
Before entering the old mine, each visitor checked the map for the nearest ESC point.
The hotel hallway had ESC arrows pointing toward the stairwell on every floor.
When the fire alarm rang, the Watanabe family followed the ESC route through the back door.
- exit
more common on everyday signs; ESC is shorter and more technical
- evacuation route
a full phrase rather than an abbreviation, used in formal emergency plans
文法句型
ESC + noun (ESC route, ESC plan)
written alone on signs
用法筆記
Most commonly seen in all-capital letters on emergency signage. In Taiwanese buildings, 逃生出口 or 安全門 are more common than the English abbreviation.
2. a key on a computer keyboard labelled ESC that tells the computer to cancel the
a key on a computer keyboard labelled ESC that tells the computer to cancel the current action, close a dialog box, or leave a program feature.
When a pop-up ad appeared on the screen, Lin pressed the ESC key and it disappeared.
press + ESC key — standard collocation
The game froze during the final level, so Diego hit ESC and returned to the main menu.
You can stop the slideshow at any time by tapping the ESC key on your keyboard.
Mei accidentally opened the wrong dialog box and quickly pressed ESC to cancel it.
- escape key
the full name; ESC is the standard abbreviation used on the key itself
文法句型
press ESC
hit ESC
ESC key
用法筆記
Often used in software instructions without the word 'key' — e.g. 'Press ESC to exit full-screen mode.' Works across Windows, macOS, and Linux systems.
常見錯誤
3. a short written form of 'escudo', the unit of money that was used in Portugal be
a short written form of 'escudo', the unit of money that was used in Portugal before the euro was introduced, and is still the official currency of Cape Verde.
The price tag on the ceramic plate read '1 500 Esc' in a Lisbon souvenir shop.
currency: number + Esc on price tags
Before the euro arrived, Portuguese banknotes had the letters Esc printed next to the value.
Tiago still keeps a 100 Esc coin from his grandfather's collection in a small wooden box.
Tourists in Cape Verde must exchange their money into Esc before paying at local markets.
- escudo
the full name of the currency; Esc is its standard abbreviation
文法句型
number + Esc (e.g. 500 Esc)
用法筆記
The international currency code for the Cape Verdean escudo is CVE, but Esc is commonly used on price labels and in informal writing. The Portuguese escudo (PTE) has been out of circulation since 2002.
4. a short written form of 'escutcheon', meaning a shield-shaped design with a fami
a short written form of 'escutcheon', meaning a shield-shaped design with a family symbol on it, or a metal plate around a keyhole that protects the door.
The family's esc. — a shield-shaped coat of arms — was carved in stone above the entrance to the old manor house.
esc. (with period) in heraldic descriptions
A brass esc. around the front door lock gave the entrance an elegant, old-fashioned look.
The museum label read 'esc. of Sir William — 16th century, silver and enamel'.
The antique desk had a tarnished esc. plate that Omar polished with a soft cloth.
- escutcheon
the full term; esc. is the abbreviation used in written descriptions
- coat of arms
refers to the design on the escutcheon, not the shield itself
- keyhole plate
the hardware sense of escutcheon, more common in everyday English
文法句型
esc. (with period) used in written descriptions
用法筆記
Typically written with a period ('esc.') in heraldic and antique catalogues. As a hardware item (keyhole plate), it is more commonly called a 'keyhole escutcheon' or simply 'keyplate' in modern English.