different between descent vs downhill

English

Etymology

From Middle English and Anglo-Norman descente, from Anglo-Norman descendre (“to descend”); see descend. Compare ascent, ascend. Doublet of desant.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /d??s?nt/
• Homophones: dissent (for some dialects)

Noun

descent (countable and uncountable, plural descents)

1. An instance of descending; act of coming down.
   • 2012, July 15. Richard Williams in Guardian Unlimited, Tour de France 2012: Carpet tacks cannot force Bradley Wiggins off track

     The next one surrendered his bike, only for that, too, to give him a second flat as he started the descent.

2. A way down.

   We had difficulty in finding the correct descent.

3. A sloping passage or incline.

   The descent into the cavern was wet and slippery.

4. Lineage or hereditary derivation.

   Our guide was of Welsh descent.

5. A drop to a lower status or condition; decline. (Can we add an example for this sense?)

   After that, the holiday went into a steep descent.

6. A falling upon or invasion.
7. (topology) A particular extension of the idea of gluing. See Descent (mathematics).

Usage notes

• Sometimes confused with decent.

Antonyms

• (going down): ascent

Derived terms

• hypodescent, hyperdescent

Related terms

• descend

Translations

Further reading

• descent in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• descent in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

Anagrams

• cedents, scented

English

Etymology

down- +? hill

Pronunciation

• (adjective, noun) IPA^(key): /?da?n?h?l/
• (adverb) IPA^(key): /?da?n?h?l/
• Rhymes: -?l

Adverb

downhill (comparative more downhill, superlative most downhill)

1. Down a slope.

   Because we got to the summit of the mountain, we could only go downhill from there.

Antonyms

• uphill

Derived terms

• go downhill

Translations

Adjective

downhill (comparative further downhill, superlative furthest downhill)

1. Located down a slope or hill.
2. Going down a slope or a hill.
3. (by extension) Easy.
4. (by extension) Deteriorating, getting worse.

   After Don made those tasteless remarks, our relationship with him went downhill.

Usage notes

• "Easy" sense: comparative and superlative are usually made with more and most.
• "Deteriorating" sense: often used with the verb "go".

Antonyms

• uphill

Translations

Noun

downhill (countable and uncountable, plural downhills)

1. (uncountable) The fastest of the disciplines of alpine skiing.
2. (countable) A rapid descent of a hill in related sports, especially in alpine skiing.

Translations

Verb

downhill (third-person singular simple present downhills, present participle downhilling, simple past and past participle downhilled)

1. To take part in downhill skiing.

Spanish

Noun

downhill m (plural downhills)

1. downhill (skiing)