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Crescendo vs Escalation - What's the difference?

crescendo | escalation |

As nouns the difference between crescendo and escalation

is that crescendo is crescendo while escalation is an increase or rise, especially one to counteract a perceived discrepancy.

crescendo

English

Alternative forms

*

Noun

  • (label) An instruction to play gradually more loudly, denoted by a long, narrow angle with its apex on the left ( < ).
  • (label) A gradual increase of anything, especially to a dramatic climax.
    • Their fighting rose in a fearsome crescendo.
  • The climax of a gradual increase.
    • Their arguing rose to a fearsome crescendo.
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2011 , date=October 20 , author=Michael da Silva , title=Stoke 3 - 0 Macc Tel-Aviv , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=With the Stoke supporters jeering Ziv's every subsequent touch, the pantomime atmosphere created by the home crowd reached a crescendo when Ziv was shown a straight red shortly after the break in extraordinary circumstances.}}

    Usage notes

    * The musical sense indicates that the figurative sense is an increase rather than the climax of the increase. The use of this word to mean the climax of an increase is nonstandard but commonplace.

    Antonyms

    * (music) decrescendo, diminuendo * (the climax of a gradual increase) climax, conclusion

    Verb

    (es)
  • To increase in intensity, to reach or head for a crescendo.
    • The band crescendoed and then suddenly went silent.
    ----

    escalation

    English

    Noun

    (wikipedia escalation) (en noun)
  • an increase or rise, especially one to counteract a perceived discrepancy
  • *{{quote-news
    • , year=2012 , date=April 19 , author=Josh Halliday , title=Free speech haven or lawless cesspool – can the internet be civilised? , work=the Guardian citation , page= , passage=Thousands of violent videos are still available on the internet, according to Alexander, who claims they lead to an escalation in offline tensions between rival gangs. "I believe some young people are losing their lives as result of this material on the internet," she said.}}
  • a deliberate or premeditated increase in the violence or geographic scope of a conflict

    • Derived terms

    * escalation plan

    Related terms

    * de-escalation