Meaning & use
Abseil
Last updated
To descend a steep rock face or other vertical surface using a doubled rope fixed at a higher point and coiled around the body, controlling the descent by friction.
See it in a sentence
The instructors taught the group how to abseil safely down the cliff.
They completed a hundred-meter abseil into the cave entrance.
A note on using this word
Abseil comes from the German ab ('down') and Seil ('rope'); it's the standard British English term, while 'rappel' is more common in American English.
Words with a similar meaning
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Words with an opposite meaning
Another way to use it
2. noun
The act or technique of descending in this way.
The abseil down the waterfall was the highlight of the adventure course.
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