de·gree
Pronounced:
/dɪˈgri:/
Function:
nounInflected forms:
plural de·greesMeaning:
1 [count] : a unit for measuring temperature ▪ Bake the bread at 350 degrees (Fahrenheit) for 35 minutes. ▪ 20 degrees Fahrenheit/Celsius [=20° F/C] —abbr. deg.
2 [count] : a unit for measuring the size of an angle ▪ There are 360 degrees in a circle. ▪ 47 degrees latitude/longitude ▪ a 15 degree angle [=a 15° angle] —abbr. deg.
3 : an amount or level that can be measured or compared to another amount or level [noncount] ▪ These trees will thrive, to a greater or lesser degree, in a number of climates. ▪ To what degree [=how much] is she interested in finance? ▪ We don't yet know the degree to which [=how much] the roof is damaged. [count] —usually + of ▪ a high degree of difficulty/skill ▪ They have had varying degrees of success. ▪ We can now predict the weather with a greater degree of accuracy. [=with more accuracy]
4 [noncount] : a measure of how severe or serious something is ▪ He was accused of murder in the first degree. = He was accused of first-degree murder. [=the most serious kind of murder] ▪ a second-degree burn —see also first-degree, second-degree, third-degree
5 [count] : an official document and title that is given to someone who has successfully completed a series of classes at a college or university ▪ She has a degree in engineering. ▪ a four-year degree [=a degree that is given to someone who has completed four years of study] ▪ a bachelor's/master's degree ▪ She received an honorary degree. [=a degree given by a college or university to someone who is not a student but who has done something important]
2 [count] : a unit for measuring the size of an angle ▪ There are 360 degrees in a circle. ▪ 47 degrees latitude/longitude ▪ a 15 degree angle [=a 15° angle] —abbr. deg.
3 : an amount or level that can be measured or compared to another amount or level [noncount] ▪ These trees will thrive, to a greater or lesser degree, in a number of climates. ▪ To what degree [=how much] is she interested in finance? ▪ We don't yet know the degree to which [=how much] the roof is damaged. [count] —usually + of ▪ a high degree of difficulty/skill ▪ They have had varying degrees of success. ▪ We can now predict the weather with a greater degree of accuracy. [=with more accuracy]
4 [noncount] : a measure of how severe or serious something is ▪ He was accused of murder in the first degree. = He was accused of first-degree murder. [=the most serious kind of murder] ▪ a second-degree burn —see also first-degree, second-degree, third-degree
5 [count] : an official document and title that is given to someone who has successfully completed a series of classes at a college or university ▪ She has a degree in engineering. ▪ a four-year degree [=a degree that is given to someone who has completed four years of study] ▪ a bachelor's/master's degree ▪ She received an honorary degree. [=a degree given by a college or university to someone who is not a student but who has done something important]
by degrees
: very slowly : by a series of small changes ▪ The tomatoes changed by degrees from green to red.
to some degree also to a (certain) degree
: not completely but partly ▪ To some degree, they're right. ▪ We simplified the process to a certain degree. [=somewhat]
to the nth degree —see nth