Degree

• POS: Adjective, Noun
• HYPHEN: de=gree

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Degree, n.
1 a stage in an ascending or descending scale, series, or process.
2 a stage in intensity or amount (to a high degree; in some degree).
3 relative condition (each is good in its degree).
4 Math. a unit of measurement of angles, one-ninetieth of a right angle or the angle subtended by one-three-hundred-and-sixtieth of the circumference of a circle.

Idiom

by degrees a little at a time; gradually. degree of freedom 1 Physics the independent direction in which motion can occur.
2 Chem. the number of independent factors required to specify a system at equilibrium.
3 Statistics the number of independent values or quantities which can be assigned to a statistical distribution. degrees of comparison see COMPARISON. forbidden (or prohibited) degrees a number of degrees of descent too few to allow of marriage between two related persons. to a degree colloq. considerably.

Usage

Abbr.: deg. (or omitted in the Kelvin scale of temperature).
6 Med. an extent of burns on a scale characterized by the destruction of the skin.
7 an academic rank conferred by a college or university after examination or after completion of a course, or conferred as an honour on a distinguished person.
8 a grade of crime or criminality (murder in the first degree).
9 a step in direct genealogical descent.
10 social or official rank.
11 Math. the highest power of unknowns or variables in an equation etc. (equation of the third degree).
12 a masonic rank.
13 a thing placed like a step in a series; a tier or row.
14 Mus. the classification of a note by its position in the scale.

Derivative

degreeless adj.

Etymology

ME f. OF degr{eacute} f. Rmc (as DE-, L gradus step)

THESAURUS

Degree

AA, AB, AM, Associate of Arts, BS, Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Divinity, Bachelor of Science, DD, DDS, Doctor of Divinity, Doctor of Laws, Doctor of Letters, Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Music, Doctor of Philosophy, Doctor of Science, Doctor of Theology, JD, LLD, LittD, MA, MBA, MD, MFA, MLS, MS, Master of Arts, Master of Divinity, Master of Science, PhD, SB, SM, STD, ScD, ThD, baccalaureate, baccalaureus, bachelor, bar, bar line, barometer, bit by bit, brace, by degrees, canon, cardinal points, caste, check, class, compass card, compass rose, condition, consecutive intervals, considerably, continuity, criterion, decidedly, degrees, diapason, diatessaron, diatonic interval, diatonic semitone, dimension, doctor, doctorate, east, eastward, enharmonic diesis, enharmonic interval, estate, exceedingly, extent, fifth, fourth, gauge, gradation, grade, gradually, graduated scale, half points, half step, halftone, hierarchy, highly, inch by inch, inchmeal, interval, ledger line, lengths, less semitone, level, limit, line, little by little, lubber line, magnitude, master, measure, melodic interval, model, norm, north, northeast, northward, northwest, notch, note, occident, octave, order, orient, parallel octaves, parameter, pattern, place, point, position, proportion, quantity, quarter points, quite, rank, rate, rather, ratio, reading, readout, rhumb, rule, rung, scale, second, semitone, sequence, serial order, seventh, situation, sixth, size, slowly, somewhat, south, southeast, southward, southwest, space, staff, stage, standard, standing, station, status, stave, step, step by step, subordination, substantially, sunrise, sunset, test, third, to a degree, tone, touchstone, type, unison interval, value, west, westward, whole step, yardstick

ROGET THESAURUS

Degree

Degree

N degree, grade, extent, measure, amount, ratio, stint, standard, height, pitch, reach, amplitude, range, scope, caliber, gradation, shade, tenor, compass, sphere, station, rank, standing, rate, way, sort, point, mark, stage, intensity, strength, comparative, gradual, shading off, within the bounds, by degrees, gradually, inasmuch, pro tanto, however, howsoever, step by step, bit by bit, little by little, inch by inch, drop by drop, a little at a time, by inches, by slow degrees, by degrees, by little and little, in some degree, in some measure, to some extent, di grado in grado.

Term

N term, rank, station, stage, step, degree, scale, remove, grade, link, peg, round of the ladder, status, position, place, point, mark, pas, period, pitch, stand, standing, footing, range.

Repute

N repute, distinction, mark, name, figure, repute, reputation, good repute, high repute, note, notability, notoriety, eclat, the bubble reputation, vogue, celebrity, fame, famousness, renown, popularity, aura popularis, approbation, credit, succes d'estime, prestige, talk of the town, name to conjure with, glory, honor, luster, illustriousness, account, regard, respect, reputableness, respectability, good name, good report, fair name, dignity, stateliness, solemnity, grandeur, splendor, nobility, majesty, sublimity, rank, standing, brevet rank, precedence, pas, station, place, status, position, position in society, order, degree, baccalaureate, locus standi, caste, condition, greatness, eminence, height, importance, preeminence, supereminence, high mightiness, primacy, top of the ladder, top of the tree, elevation, ascent, superaltation, exaltation, dignification, aggrandizement, dedication, consecration, enthronement, canonization, celebration, enshrinement, glorification, hero, man of mark, great card, celebrity, worthy, lion, rara avis, notability, somebody, classman, man of rank, pillar of the state, pillar of the church, pillar of the community, chief, first fiddle, cynosure, mirror, flower, pink, pearl, paragon, choice and master spirits of the age, elite, star, sun, constellation, galaxy, ornament, honor, feather in one's cap, halo, aureole, nimbus, halo of glory, blaze of glory, blushing honors, laurels, memory, posthumous fame, niche in the temple of fame, immortality, immortal name, magni nominis umbra, distinguished, distingue, noted, of note, honored, popular, fashionable, in good odor in, favor, in high favor, reputable, respectable, creditable, remarkable, notable, notorious, celebrated, renowned, ion every one's mouth, talked of, famous, famed, far-famed, conspicuous, to the front, foremost, in the front rank, in the ascendant, imperishable, deathless, immortal, never fading, aere perennius, time honored, illustrious, glorious, splendid, brilliant, radiant, bright, full-blown, honorific, eminent, prominent, high, in the zenith, at the head of, at the top of the tree, peerless, of the first water, superior, supereminent, preeminent, great, dignified, proud, noble, honorable, worshipful, lordly, grand, stately, august, princely, imposing, solemn, transcendent, majestic, sacred, sublime, heaven- born, heroic, sans peur et sans reproche, sacrosanct, Int, hail!, all hail!, ave!, viva!, vive!, long life to!, banzai!, glory be to, honor be to?, one's name being in every mouth, one's name living for ever, sic itur ad astra, fama volat, aut Caesar aut nullus, not to know him argues oneself unknown, none but himself could be his parallel, palmam qui meruit ferat, above all Greek above all Roman fame, cineri gloria sera est, great is the glory for the strife is hard, honor virtutis praemium, immensum gloria calcar habet, the glory dies not and the grief is past, vivit post funera virtus.