1. 下來(lái);下降;走下
    If you descend or if you descend a staircase, you move downwards from a higher to a lower level.

    e.g. Things are cooler and more damp as we descend to the cellar...
           當(dāng)我們往下走去地窖時(shí)，四周愈見陰冷潮濕。
    e.g. She descended one flight of stairs.
           她走下了一段樓梯。

2. (情緒、氣氛等)降臨，籠罩
    When a mood or atmosphere descends on a place or on the people there, it affects them by spreading among them.

    e.g. An uneasy calm descended on the area...
           一種令人不安的平靜籠罩了該地區(qū)。
    e.g. A reverent hush descended on the multitude.
           人群虔敬地噤了聲。

3. （大批人）突然到來(lái)，突然造訪
    If a large group of people arrive to see you, especially if their visit is unexpected or causes you a lot of work, you can say that they have descended on you.

    e.g. 3,000 city officials descended on Capitol Hill to lobby for more money...
           3,000名市政官員齊聚國(guó)會(huì)山，為籌集更多的款項(xiàng)進(jìn)行游說(shuō)。
    e.g. Curious tourists and reporters from around the globe are descending upon the peaceful villages.
           好奇的游客和記者從世界各地一齊涌向這些平靜的村落。

4. (夜幕、黃昏、黑暗等)降臨
    When night, dusk, or darkness descends, it starts to get dark.

    e.g. Darkness has now descended and the moon and stars shine hazily in the clear sky.
           夜幕現(xiàn)在已經(jīng)降臨，晴朗的天空里月影婆娑，星光朦朧。

5. 降低身份;墮落;淪落
    If you say that someone descends to behaviour which you consider unacceptable, you are expressing your disapproval of the fact that they do it.

    e.g. We're not going to descend to such methods...
           我們不會(huì)淪落到使用這種手段。
    e.g. She's got too much dignity to descend to writing anonymous letters.
           她是個(gè)自尊心很強(qiáng)的人，絕不會(huì)自貶身份去寫匿名信。

6. 陷入(糟糕境地)
    When you want to emphasize that the situation that someone is entering is very bad, you can say that they are descending into that situation.

    e.g. He was ultimately overthrown and the country descended into chaos.
           他最終被推翻，整個(gè)國(guó)家則陷入了混亂。