Escape vs. Scape: What's the Difference?
Edited by Sumera Saeed || By Sawaira Riaz || Updated on October 30, 2023
Escape refers to getting away from confinement or danger, while "scape" is less commonly used, often referring to a stem or stalk, or as a suffix in words like "landscape."
Key Differences
Escape and scape are two words that might seem similar but have distinct usages and meanings in the English language. Escape primarily denotes the act of breaking free from something, such as confinement or a hazardous situation. In contrast, the word scape is less frequently used on its own, typically signifying a stem or stalk of a plant.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 29, 2023
When someone mentions they "made an escape," it is understood that they managed to get away from a potentially threatening or undesirable situation. Scape, on the other hand, might be unfamiliar to some unless they have knowledge in botany, where it describes a specific part of a plant.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 29, 2023
Additionally, scape is also seen as a suffix in various words in the English language, such as "landscape" or "soundscape," where it helps define a particular type or view of environment. Escape doesn't serve such a grammatical purpose.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 29, 2023
So, in essence, while escape is a common word that often denotes urgent movements away from something, scape stands apart as either a botanical term or a component of other words, enhancing their meaning.
Harlon Moss
Oct 29, 2023
Comparison Chart
Primary Definition
To break free from confinement or danger.
A stem or stalk of a plant, or suffix in certain words.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 29, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT
Example Usage
"He managed to escape from prison."
"The scape of the flower is long."
Aimie Carlson
Oct 29, 2023
Escape and Scape Definitions
Escape
To break free from confinement or control.
The prisoner managed to escape.
Janet White
Oct 10, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT
Scape
A long, leafless stalk in plants that arises from a rosette of leaves and bears one or more flowers.
The daylily has a tall scape.
Aimie Carlson
Oct 10, 2023
Scape
A view or picture of a particular type, often as a suffix.
The cityscape is breathtaking.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 10, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT
Escape
To issue from confinement or enclosure; leak or seep out
Gas was escaping from the vent.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 07, 2023
Escape
To avoid a serious or unwanted outcome
Escaped from the accident with their lives.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 07, 2023
Scape
A channel or duct in certain animals.
The scape in some mollusks aids in water flow.
Harlon Moss
Oct 10, 2023
Escape
(Biology) To become established in the wild. Used of a plant or animal.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 07, 2023
Scape
(Botany) A leafless flower stalk growing directly from the ground, as in the tulip.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 07, 2023
Escape
(Computers) To interrupt a command, exit a program, or change levels within a program by using a key, combination of keys, or key sequence.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 07, 2023
Scape
(Biology) A stalklike part, such as a feather shaft or the first segment of an insect's antenna.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 07, 2023
Escape
To break loose from; get free of
The spacecraft escaped Earth's gravitational field.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 07, 2023
Escape
To be outside the memory or understanding of; fail to be remembered or understood by
Her name escapes me. The book's significance escaped him.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 07, 2023
Scape
The basal segment of an insect's antenna (i.e. the part closest to the body).
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 07, 2023
Scape
The basal part of the ovipositor of an insect, more specifically known as the oviscape.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 07, 2023
Escape
A means of obtaining temporary freedom from worry, care, or unpleasantness
Television is my escape from worry.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 07, 2023
Escape
(Biology) A cultivated plant or a domesticated or confined animal that has become established in the wild.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 07, 2023
Escape
(Computers) A key used especially to interrupt a command, exit a program, or change levels within a program.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 07, 2023
Escape
(intransitive) To get free; to free oneself.
The prisoners escaped by jumping over a wall.
The factory was evacuated after toxic gases escaped from a pipe.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 07, 2023
Escape
(transitive) To avoid (any unpleasant person or thing); to elude, get away from.
He only got a fine and so escaped going to jail.
The children climbed out of the window to escape the fire.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 07, 2023
Escape
(intransitive) To avoid capture; to get away with something, avoid punishment.
Luckily, I escaped with only a fine.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 07, 2023
Escape
(transitive) To elude the observation or notice of; to not be seen or remembered by.
The name of the hotel escapes me at present.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 07, 2023
Escape
To cause (a single character, or all such characters in a string) to be interpreted literally, instead of with any special meaning it would usually have in the same context, often by prefixing with another character.
When using the "bash" shell, you can escape the ampersand character with a backslash.
Brion escaped the double quote character on Windows by adding a second double quote within the literal.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 07, 2023
Escape
(computing) To halt a program or command by pressing a key (such as the "Esc" key) or combination of keys.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 07, 2023
Scape
A peduncle rising from the ground or from a subterranean stem, as in the stemless violets, the bloodroot, and the like.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 07, 2023
Escape
The act of leaving a dangerous or unpleasant situation.
The prisoners made their escape by digging a tunnel.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 07, 2023
Escape
Leakage or outflow, as of steam or a liquid, or an electric current through defective insulation.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 07, 2023
Scape
An escape.
I spake of most disastrous chances, . . .Of hairbreadth scapes in the imminent, deadly breach.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 07, 2023
Scape
A freak; a slip; a fault; an escapade.
Not pardoning so much as the scapes of error and ignorance.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 07, 2023
Escape
(programming) The text character represented by 27 (decimal) or 1B (hexadecimal).
You forgot to insert an escape in the datastream.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 07, 2023
Escape
(manufacturing) A defective product that is allowed to leave a manufacturing facility.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 07, 2023
Scape
Erect leafless flower stalk growing directly from the ground as in a tulip
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 07, 2023
Escape
(obsolete) That which escapes attention or restraint; a mistake, oversight, or transgression.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 07, 2023
Escape
To flee from and avoid; to be saved or exempt from; to shun; to obtain security from; as, to escape danger.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 07, 2023
Escape
To avoid the notice of; to pass unobserved by; to evade; as, the fact escaped our attention.
They escaped the search of the enemy.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 07, 2023
Escape
To flee, and become secure from danger; - often followed by from or out of.
Haste, for thy life escape, nor look behind
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 07, 2023
Escape
To get clear from danger or evil of any form; to be passed without harm.
Such heretics . . . would have been thought fortunate, if they escaped with life.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 07, 2023
Escape
To get free from that which confines or holds; - used of persons or things; as, to escape from prison, from arrest, or from slavery; gas escapes from the pipes; electricity escapes from its conductors.
To escape out of these meshes.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 07, 2023
Escape
The act of fleeing from danger, of evading harm, or of avoiding notice; deliverance from injury or any evil; flight; as, an escape in battle; a narrow escape; also, the means of escape; as, a fire escape.
I would hasten my escape from the windy storm.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 07, 2023
Escape
That which escapes attention or restraint; a mistake; an oversight; also, transgression.
I should have been more accurate, and corrected all those former escapes.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 07, 2023
Escape
The unlawful permission, by a jailer or other custodian, of a prisoner's departure from custody.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 07, 2023
Escape
Leakage or loss of currents from the conducting wires, caused by defective insulation.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 07, 2023
Escape
The act of escaping physically;
He made his escape from the mental hospital
The canary escaped from its cage
His flight was an indication of his guilt
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 07, 2023
Escape
An inclination to retreat from unpleasant realities through diversion or fantasy;
Romantic novels were her escape from the stress of daily life
His alcohol problem was a form of escapism
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 07, 2023
Escape
The unwanted discharge of a fluid from some container;
They tried to stop the escape of gas from the damaged pipe
He had to clean up the leak
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 07, 2023
Escape
A valve in a container in which pressure can build up (as a steam boiler); it opens automatically when the pressure reaches a dangerous level
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 07, 2023
Escape
Nonperformance of something distasteful (as by deceit or trickery) that you are supposed to do;
His evasion of his clear duty was reprehensible
That escape from the consequences is possible but unattractive
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 07, 2023
Escape
A means or way of escaping;
Hard work was his escape from worry
They installed a second hatch as an escape
Their escape route
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 07, 2023
Escape
Run away from confinement;
The convicted murderer escaped from a high security prison
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 07, 2023
Escape
Escape potentially unpleasant consequences; get away with a forbidden action;
She gets away with murder!
I couldn't get out from under these responsibilities
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 07, 2023
Escape
Be incomprehensible to; escape understanding by;
What you are seeing in him eludes me
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 07, 2023
Escape
Remove oneself from a familiar environment, usually for pleasure or diversion;
We escaped to our summer house for a few days
The president of the company never manages to get away during the summer
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 07, 2023
Escape
Flee; take to one's heels; cut and run;
If you see this man, run!
The burglars escaped before the police showed up
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 07, 2023
Escape
A means of obtaining temporary freedom from worry or pain.
Reading is my escape.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 10, 2023
FAQs
Can escape be used figuratively?
Yes, such as "escape from reality" to mean mental distraction.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 29, 2023
Is escaping always a physical act?
No, one can escape mentally or emotionally from situations.
Harlon Moss
Oct 29, 2023
Is scape a common standalone word in English?
No, it's less common and often specific to botany or as a suffix.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 29, 2023
Does scape always relate to plants?
No, it can also be a suffix or refer to certain architectural elements.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 29, 2023
How is scape used in architecture?
It can refer to a shaft or stem in architectural structures.
Sara Rehman
Oct 29, 2023
Can a scape be decorative in architecture?
Yes, scapes in architecture can have ornate designs.
Harlon Moss
Oct 29, 2023
What does escape mean in everyday language?
It typically means to break free from something or avoid a situation.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 29, 2023
Can animals escape?
Yes, animals can escape from cages, predators, or other threats.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 29, 2023
Does an escape route refer to a physical path?
Typically, but it can also be a plan or strategy for getting out of a situation.
Harlon Moss
Oct 29, 2023
Is scape related to scope?
No, they are distinct words with different origins and meanings.
Janet White
Oct 29, 2023
Is a seascape a view of the sea?
Yes, it's a picture or view of the sea or sea scenery.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 29, 2023
Can one escape a feeling?
Yes, people often try to escape negative feelings or emotions.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 29, 2023
Are there words that use scape as a suffix?
Yes, words like "landscape," "soundscape," and "cityscape."
Janet White
Oct 29, 2023
Is escape always urgent?
Often it implies urgency, but it can be used in relaxed contexts too.
Sara Rehman
Oct 29, 2023
Do all plants have a scape?
No, only certain plants have a structure referred to as a scape.
Janet White
Oct 29, 2023
What's another word similar to scape in botany?
Peduncle, though it has its specific botanical distinctions from scape.
Janet White
Oct 29, 2023
About Author
Written by
Sawaira RiazSawaira is a dedicated content editor at difference.wiki, where she meticulously refines articles to ensure clarity and accuracy. With a keen eye for detail, she upholds the site's commitment to delivering insightful and precise content.
Edited by
Sumera SaeedSumera is an experienced content writer and editor with a niche in comparative analysis. At Diffeence Wiki, she crafts clear and unbiased comparisons to guide readers in making informed decisions. With a dedication to thorough research and quality, Sumera's work stands out in the digital realm. Off the clock, she enjoys reading and exploring diverse cultures.
