1. 攀登；登上
    If you ascend a hill or staircase, you go up it.

ascend的意思

    e.g. Mrs Clayton had to hold Lizzie's hand as they ascended the steps...
           拾级而上的时候克莱顿夫人不得不抓着莉齐的手。
    e.g. Then we ascend steeply through forests of rhododendron.
           然后我们在杜鹃花丛中沿着陡坡向上爬。

2. （楼梯、路）上升，升高
    If a staircase or path ascends, it leads up to a higher position.

    e.g. A number of staircases ascend from the cobbled streets onto the ramparts.
           一段石阶从鹅卵石路上一直向上直通城墙。
    e.g. ...an ascending spiral path leading to a tower.
           螺旋上升的通向一座塔的路

3. （通常指垂直地）上升
    If something ascends, it moves up, usually vertically or into the air.

    e.g. Keep the drill steady while it ascends and descends...
           打钻和提钻时要保持钻头平稳。
    e.g. Nott and Dickinson set a new altitude record when they ascended 55,900 feet in their balloon.
           诺特和迪金森乘坐热气球上升了55，900英尺，创造了一项新的高度纪录。

4. 升迁；升职；(君主)登基,即位
    If someone ascends to an important position, they achieve it or are appointed to it. When someone ascends a throne, they become king, queen, or pope.

    e.g. ...the same year he ascended to power...
           同年，他上台掌权。
    e.g. Before ascending to the bench, she was a lawyer in a large New York firm.
           在升为法官之前，她是纽约一家大型律所的律师。

5. （事业、社会地位）提高；晋升
    If you ascend in your career or in society, you gradually achieve success or a higher status.

    e.g. Mobutu ascended through the ranks, eventually becoming commander of the army...
           蒙博托出身行伍，通过一级级晋升，最终成为了陆军司令。
    e.g. They move freely from one department to another as they ascend the civil service ladder.
           随着仕途晋升，他们可以在部门间随意调动。

6. （在某些宗教中指灵魂）升天，进入天堂
    In some religions, when someone's soul goes to heaven, you can say that they ascend to heaven.

    e.g. ...the belief that the souls of the faithful and virtuous would ascend to heaven.
           虔诚和善良的灵魂会升入天堂的信仰

7. （境界）上升；升华
    If something or someone ascends to a higher level, they reach a state that is better than the one they were in before.

ascend的翻译

    e.g. The story ascends from a gothic tragedy to a miraculous fairy-tale.
           故事从一个哥特式悲剧升华为神奇的童话。

8. see also: ascending