Collocations for descent - noun
1. movement down
ADJECTIVE
fast,
rapid,
swift
(esp. BrE)
slow
steep
gentle, gradual
long
difficult, easy
They began the difficult descent of the mountain's south face.
slow
steep
gentle, gradual
long
difficult, easy
They began the difficult descent of the mountain's south face.
final
The plane was making its final descent.
The plane was making its final descent.
VERB + descent
make
begin, start
continue
slow
The space capsule used parachutes to slow its descent.
begin, start
continue
slow
The space capsule used parachutes to slow its descent.
PREPOSITION
during a/the descent,
on a/the descent
The engines failed on the plane's descent to Newark.
The engines failed on the plane's descent to Newark.
descent down
I made a slow and painful descent down the stairs.
I made a slow and painful descent down the stairs.
descent from
the descent from the top of the mountain
the descent from the top of the mountain
descent into
(figurative)
his descent into alcoholism
his descent into alcoholism
descent to
The plane began its gentle descent to Narita.
The plane began its gentle descent to Narita.
2. surface that goes downwards
3. family origins
ADJECTIVE
direct,
lineal
She claims direct descent from Queen Victoria.
She claims direct descent from Queen Victoria.
common
Most European languages have a common descent.
Most European languages have a common descent.
mixed
African, Chinese, European, Irish, etc.
African, Chinese, European, Irish, etc.
PREPOSITION
by descent
She is Hungarian by descent.
She is Hungarian by descent.
descent from
He claims to have traced descent from Christopher Columbus.
He claims to have traced descent from Christopher Columbus.
PHRASES
a line of descent
Humans and other apes followed separate lines of descent from a common ancestor.
Humans and other apes followed separate lines of descent from a common ancestor.
of Mexican, Scottish, etc. descent
She is of mixed European and African descent.
She is of mixed European and African descent.