ascender
noun
as·cend·er
ə-ˈsen-dər 
ˈa-ˌsen-
1
: the part of a lowercase letter (such as b) that rises above the main body of the letter
also
: a letter that has such a part
2
: a device used for climbing rope that slides freely in one direction and grips the rope when pulled in the opposite direction
Examples of ascender in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
While wearing a helmet and harness, you are connected to a rope in the tree with hand ascenders and foot loops.
—
oregonlive, 26 June 2023
The optimism emanates from having a third-year starting quarterback, the internal gushing over Tommy Rees’ promotion to offensive coordinator and an exciting wave of receivers led by reinstated 2019 suspendee Kevin Austin Jr. and late-season ascender Braden Lenzy.
—Eric Hansen, The Indianapolis Star, 23 June 2020
There's another problem with this ascender and its battery.
—Wired, 24 July 2022
The lander will dig for materials with its drill and robotic arm and transfer them to the ascender, which will lift off from the moon and dock with the service capsule.
—Sam McNeil, USA TODAY, 23 Nov. 2020
The ascender will then take off, re-enter orbit, and dock with the orbiter-returner.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN, 24 Nov. 2020
Flying a Chinese flag, the moon lander stopped functioning soon after it was used as a launching pad for the ascender, which was ejected from the orbiter after transferring the samples and came to rest on the moon’s surface.
—orlandosentinel.com, 16 Dec. 2020
The spacecraft is made up of an orbiter, a lander, an ascender and a returner, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA).
—Jessie Yeung, CNN, 24 Nov. 2020
Plans call for the upper stage of the probe known as the ascender to be launched back into lunar orbit to transfer the samples to a capsule for return to Earth.
—Fox News, 4 Dec. 2020
oregonlive, 26 June 2023
The optimism emanates from having a third-year starting quarterback, the internal gushing over Tommy Rees’ promotion to offensive coordinator and an exciting wave of receivers led by reinstated 2019 suspendee Kevin Austin Jr. and late-season ascender Braden Lenzy.
—Eric Hansen, The Indianapolis Star, 23 June 2020
There's another problem with this ascender and its battery.
—Wired, 24 July 2022
The lander will dig for materials with its drill and robotic arm and transfer them to the ascender, which will lift off from the moon and dock with the service capsule.
—Sam McNeil, USA TODAY, 23 Nov. 2020
The ascender will then take off, re-enter orbit, and dock with the orbiter-returner.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN, 24 Nov. 2020
Flying a Chinese flag, the moon lander stopped functioning soon after it was used as a launching pad for the ascender, which was ejected from the orbiter after transferring the samples and came to rest on the moon’s surface.
—orlandosentinel.com, 16 Dec. 2020
The spacecraft is made up of an orbiter, a lander, an ascender and a returner, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA).
—Jessie Yeung, CNN, 24 Nov. 2020
Plans call for the upper stage of the probe known as the ascender to be launched back into lunar orbit to transfer the samples to a capsule for return to Earth.
—Fox News, 4 Dec. 2020
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ascender.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
circa 1867, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near ascender
Cite this Entry
“Ascender.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ascender. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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