(~s)
1.
A ~ is a movement from a higher to a lower level or position.
...the crash of an Airbus A300 on its ~ into Kathmandu airport.
? ascent
N-VAR
2.
A ~ is a surface that slopes downwards, for example the side of a steep hill.
On the ~s, 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 ~ into that situation.
...his swift ~ from respected academic to struggling small businessman.
= decline
N-SING: usu poss N into/from/to n emphasis
4.
You use ~ to talk about a person’s family background, for example their nationality or social status. (FORMAL)
All the contributors were of African ~.
= origin, ancestry
N-UNCOUNT: usu of adj N