Small row to escalate dramatically (4)
I believe the answer is:
soar
'escalate dramatically' is the definition.
(as in soaring numbers)
'small row' is the wordplay.
'small' becomes 's' (abbreviation - e.g. clothes size).
'row' becomes 'oar' (oar can mean to row with oars).
's'+'oar'='SOAR'
'to' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for soar that I've seen before include "Fly high into the air" , "take to the air" , "Rise effortlessly" , "Move quickly upward" , "Rise high into the air" .)