noun , verb
■ noun / ˈeskɔːt; NAmE ˈeskɔːrt/
1.
[ C , U ] a person or group of people or vehicles that travels with sb/sth in order to protect or guard them :
Armed escorts are provided for visiting heads of state.
Prisoners are taken to court under police escort .
2.
[ C ] ( formal or old-fashioned ) a person, especially a man, who takes sb to a particular social event
3.
[ C ] a person, especially a woman, who is paid to go out socially with sb :
an escort service / agency
■ verb
/ ɪˈskɔːt; NAmE ɪˈskɔːrt/ [ vn , usually + adv. / prep. ] to go with sb to protect or guard them or to show them the way :
The President arrived, escorted by twelve soldiers.
➡ note at take
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WORD ORIGIN
late 16th cent. (originally denoting a body of armed men escorting travellers): from French escorte (noun), escorter (verb), from Italian scorta , feminine past participle of scorgere to conduct, guide, based on Latin ex- out of + corrigere set right (from cor- together + regere guide).