DESCENT


Meaning of DESCENT in English

transcription, транскрипция: [ dɪsent ]

( descents)

1.

A descent is a movement from a higher to a lower level or position.

...the crash of an Airbus A300 on its descent into Kathmandu airport.

≠ ascent

N-VAR

2.

A descent is a surface that slopes downwards, for example the side of a steep hill.

On the descents, cyclists spin past cars, freewheeling downhill at tremendous speed.

≠ ascent

N-COUNT

3.

When you want to emphasize that a situation becomes very bad, you can talk about someone’s or something’s descent into that situation.

...his swift descent from respected academic to struggling small businessman.

= decline

N-SING : usu poss N into/from/to n [ emphasis ]

4.

You use descent to talk about a person’s family background, for example their nationality or social status. ( FORMAL )

All the contributors were of African descent.

= origin, ancestry

N-UNCOUNT : usu of adj N

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary.      Английский словарь Коллинз COBUILD для изучающих язык на продвинутом уровне.