(mountaineering) a descent of a vertical cliff or wall made by using a doubled rope that is fixed to a higher point and wrapped around the body

[ Syn: rappel ]

lower oneself with a rope coiled around the body from a mountainside; The ascent was easy--roping down the mountain would be much more difficult and dangerous; You have to learn how to abseil when you want to do technical climbing

[ Syn: rappel , rope down ]