Showing results for abseil. Search instead for abseils.

abseil

American

[ahp-zahyl, ab-seyl] / ˈɑp zaɪl, ˈæb seɪl /

noun

rappel.

abseil British

/ ˈæbsaɪl /

verb

mountaineering to descend a steep slope or vertical drop by a rope secured from above and coiled around one's body or through karabiners attached to one's body in order to control the speed of descent
to descend by rope from a helicopter

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

an instance or the technique of abseiling

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of abseil

1930–35; < German abseilen ( ab- down + seilen to rope)

Compare meaning

How does abseil compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

abseil vs. rappel

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Rui and Michael are being roped up as they encourage each other to abseil further into the cave.

From BBC • Nov. 22, 2024

On that second morning they began to cautiously abseil down the rock spur, aware their weak condition could lead to mistakes.

From BBC • Oct. 6, 2024

Ms Woodhouse said she was "so pleased" to have completed the abseil.

From BBC • Sep. 21, 2024

BBC reporter John Maguire joined an access specialist team to abseil down the Ferris wheel and give it a fresh coat of paint.

From BBC • Mar. 20, 2024

It wants to remove and dispose of rotting climbing rubbish and make abseil stations safer.

From BBC • Oct. 12, 2023

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023