French Conversation · Level 60
75 words
French word
descente
Pronunciation
IPA/desɑ̃t/
Meaning
- feminine noundescent
Example
La descente est raide.
The descent is steep.
More examples
Le cycliste a pris la descente prudemment.
The cyclist took the descent carefully.
Core concept
A downward passage from a high point, which can describe a steep section, a sharp fall, or authorities coming down on a site.
Common phrases
la descente
the descent
en descente
downhill
Similar words
pente: The degree to which land or a road slopes.
côte: A short hill or stretch of road that is somewhat steep.
chute: The sudden fall of a person or object, including its aftermath.
baisse: A reduction in a level, price, or other measured amount.
Definition in French
Mouvement vers le bas ou pente; peut aussi désigner une chute rapide ou une intervention, par exemple une descente de police.
Word origin
French descente is a noun derived from descendre and traces back to Latin descendere, built from de- 'down' and scandere 'to climb'.
Usage tips
- In descente de police, de police identifies the intervening authority, while descente refers to the organized raid or intervention rather than a physical slope.
Other meanings
- declinenoun
- divenoun
- raidnoun
Opposites
- montéeuphill climbnoun
Related words
- descendredescendverb
- descendantdescendingadjective