Word
abseil
Phoneticsab·seil
UK/ˈæbseɪl/
Definition
n. a way to climb down a rock face or a tall building by using a rope. You control your speed by letting the rope run through your hands.
n. the act of descending a vertical surface using a rope and a friction device. Often used in climbing or rescue operations to control the rate of descent.
Examples
“The climbers used an abseil to reach the bottom of the cliff.”
“The rescue team performed a controlled abseil down the side of the skyscraper to reach the stranded hikers.”
“While the ascent required significant physical strength, the abseil was a more technical maneuver that demanded precise control of the friction device to prevent a sudden fall.”
Examples
simple
“The climbers used an abseil to reach the bottom of the cliff.”
contextual
“The rescue team performed a controlled abseil down the side of the skyscraper to reach the stranded hikers.”
complex
“While the ascent required significant physical strength, the abseil was a more technical maneuver that demanded precise control of the friction device to prevent a sudden fall.”
Etymology
From German abseilen, from ab- (“down”) + Seil (“rope”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/abseil