degree

noun

de·​gree di-ˈgrē 

1

: a step or stage in a process, course, or order of classification

advanced by degrees

We all know that you're only three degrees away from all sorts of interesting and even famous people on social media.

—Alex Proud

2

a

: a rank or grade of official, ecclesiastical, or social position

people of low degree

b

archaic : a particular standing especially as to dignity or worth

c

: the civil (see civil sense 4) condition or status of a person

3

genealogy : a step in a direct line of descent or in the line of ascent to a common ancestor

4

a

obsolete : step, stair

b

archaic : a member of a series arranged in steps (as of parts of a structure)

5

medical : a measure of damage to tissue caused by injury or disease compare first-degree burn, second-degree burn, third-degree burn

6

a

: the extent, measure, or scope of an action, condition, or relation

different in degree but not in kind

requiring a high degree of skill

b

: relative intensity

a high degree of stress

c

grammar : one of the forms or sets of forms used in the comparison of an adjective or adverb

d

law : a legal measure of guilt or negligence

found guilty of murder in the first degree

7

a

education : a title conferred on students by a college, university, or professional school on completion of a program of study

earned her four-year degree

associate's degrees

has a degree in psychology

b

: a grade of membership attained in a ritualistic order or society

received his first degree in the Knights of Columbus

c

: an academic title conferred to honor distinguished achievement or service

The actor was presented with an honorary degree.

d

: the formal ceremonies observed in the conferral of such a distinction

8

mathematics : a unit of measure for angles equal to an angle with its vertex at the center of a circle and its sides cutting off ¹/₃₆₀ of the circumference

a fifteen degree angle

47 degrees Latitude

also : a unit of measure for arcs of a circle equal to the amount of arc that subtends a central angle of one degree

9

archaic : a position or space on the earth or in the heavens as measured by degrees of latitude

10

music

a

: a step, note, or tone of a scale

b

: a line or space of the musical staff

11

: one of the divisions or intervals marked on a scale of a measuring instrument

specifically : any of various units for measuring temperature

350 degrees Fahrenheit

12

mathematics

a

: the sum of the exponents of the variables in the term of highest degree in a polynomial, polynomial function, or polynomial equation

b

: the sum of the exponents of the variable factors of a monomial

c

: the greatest power of the derivative of highest order in a differential equation after the equation has been rationalized (see rationalize sense 2) and cleared of fractions with respect to the derivative

degreed

di-ˈgrēd 

adjective

Illustration of degree

• degree 8

Phrases

to a degree

1

: to a remarkable extent : exceedingly

I felt desolate to a degree

—Charlotte Brontë

2

: in a small way

to a degree he succeeded

Synonyms

• chapter
• cut
• grade
• inch
• notch
• peg
• phase
• place
• point
• stage
• step

Examples of degree in a Sentence

There are 360 degrees in a circle.

These trees will thrive, to a greater or lesser degree, in a number of climates.

Recent Examples on the Web

The lack of Wi-Fi limits its appeal potential to a degree, and without an app, there's no way to customize the experience. —PCMAG, 7 Nov. 2024

Guthrie, 60, served in the Army before earning a degree from Yale and serving several terms in the Kentucky Senate. —Lucas Aulbach, The Courier-Journal, 6 Nov. 2024

And more than half of Asian Americans ages 25 and older have at least a bachelor’s degree, compared to roughly one-third of the general population in the same age range. —Kimmy Yam, NBC News, 6 Nov. 2024

He has also been awarded honorary doctorate degrees from URI, American University and Hobart and William Smith Colleges. —Saman Shafiq, USA TODAY, 5 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French degré, from Vulgar Latin *degradus, from Latin de- + gradus — see degrade

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing degree

• advanced degree
• associate's degree
• bachelor's degree
• degree-day
• degree of freedom
• external degree
• first-degree burn
• first-degree murder
• give you the third degree
• honorary degree
• in the first degree
• in the second degree
• master's degree
• pass degree
• second-degree burn
• second-degree murder
• the degree to which
• third-degree
• third-degree burn
• third-degree murder
• to a greater/lesser degree/extent
• to a greater or lesser degree/extent
• to such a degree
• to the nth degree
• to what degree

Kids Definition

degree

noun

de·​gree di-ˈgrē 

1

: a step or stage in a process or series

advance by degrees

2

a

: the intensity of something as measured by degrees

murder in the first degree

b

: one of the forms used in the comparison of an adjective or adverb

3

: a rank or grade of official or social position

persons of high degree

4

a

: a grade of membership in an order or society

b

: a title given a student by a college, university, or professional school upon completion of a program of study

a degree of doctor of medicine

c

: an academic title granted to honor a person who is not a student

5

: one of the divisions marked on a measuring instrument (as a device for measuring temperature)

6

: a unit of measure for angles and arcs that for angles is equal to an angle with its vertex at the center of a circle and its sides cutting off ¹⁄₃₆₀ of the circumference and that for an arc of a circle is equal to ¹⁄₃₆₀ of the circumference

7

a

: a line or space of the musical staff

b

: a step, note, or tone of a musical scale

Medical Definition

degree

noun

de·​gree di-ˈgrē 

1

: a measure of damage to tissue caused by injury or disease see first-degree burn, second-degree burn, third-degree burn

2

a

: a title conferred on students by a college, university, or professional school on completion of a unified program of study

b

: an academic title conferred honorarily

3

: one of the divisions or intervals marked on a scale of a measuring instrument

specifically : any of various units for measuring temperature

4

: a 360th part of the circumference of a circle

degreed

-ˈgrēd 

adjective

Legal Definition

degree

noun

de·​gree

1

: a step in a direct line of descent or in the line of ascent to a common ancestor

2

a

: a measure of the seriousness of a crime see also fifth degree, first degree, fourth degree, second degree, third degree

Note: Crimes are rated by degrees for the purpose of imposing more severe punishments for more serious crimes.

b

: a measure of care

also : a measure of negligence especially in connection with bailments see also care, negligence