descent

1. N-VAR A descent is a movement from a higher to a lower level or position. 下降

Sixteen of the youngsters set off for help, but during the descent three collapsed in the cold and rain. 那些年輕人中有16人出發(fā)尋求幫助，但在下山過程中有3人在寒冷和陰雨中倒下了。

2. N-COUNT A descent is a surface that slopes downward, for example, the side of a steep hill. 下坡

On the descents, cyclists spin past cars, freewheeling downhill at tremendous speed. 在下坡道上，自行車手們飛快地掠過汽車，靠慣性極速沖下山去。

3. N-SING When you want to emphasize that a situation becomes very bad, you can talk about someone's or something's descent into that situation. 沉淪; 沒落[強調(diào)]

...his swift descent from respected academic to struggling small businessman. …他從受人尊敬的學者到掙扎求存的小商人的迅速淪落。

4. N-UNCOUNT You use descent to talk about a person's family background, for example, their nationality or social status. 出身[正式]

All the contributors were of African descent. 所有捐助者都是非洲血統(tǒng)。