descend /dɪˈsɛnd/ CET4 TEM4 ( descending, descended, descends )

• 1. 

  V-T/V-I If you descend or if you descend a staircase, you move downward from a higher to a lower level. 下 (楼梯等); 下来 [正式]

  例：

  Things are cooler and more damp as we descend to the cellar.

  我们往地窖中下得越深，里面就越冷、越潮湿。

• 2. 

  V-I If a large group of people arrive to see you, especially if their visit is unexpected or causes you a lot of work, you can say that they have descended on you. 突然到访

  例：

  Some 3,000 city officials will descend on Capitol Hill on Tuesday to lobby for more money.

  大约三千名市政官员将于周二突访美国国会山，为争取更多经费游说。

• 3. 

  V-I When you want to emphasize that the situation that someone is entering is very bad, you can say that they are descending into that situation. 陷入 [强调]

  例：

  He was ultimately overthrown and the country descended into chaos.

  他最终被推翻，国家陷入了混乱。

• 4. 

  V-I If you say that someone descends to behaviour which you consider unacceptable, you are expressing your disapproval of the fact that they do it. 堕落 [表不满]

  例：

  We're not going to descend to such methods.

  我们不会堕落到使用这些方式的份上。