English - Noun
DEGREE (_plural_ DEGREES)
* (obsolete outside heraldry) A step on a set of stairs; the rung of a ladder. [from 13th c.]
* An individual step, or stage, in any process or scale of values. [from 13th c.]
* A stage of rank or privilege; social standing. [from 13th c.]
* 1526, William Tyndale, trans. _Bible_, Luke XX:
Master, we knowe that thou sayest, and teachest ryght, nether considerest thou eny mannes DEGRE, but techest the waye of god truely.
* (genealogy) A ‘step’ in genealogical descent. [from 14th c.]
* 2002, Colin Jones, _The Great Nation_, Penguin 2003, page 140:
Louis created the École militaire in Paris in 1751, in which 500 scholarships were designated for noblemen able to prove four DEGREES of noble status.
* (now rare) One's relative state or experience; way, manner. [from 14th c.]
* 1851, Herman Melville, _Moby-Dick_:
If they but knew it, almost all men in their DEGREE, some time or other, cherish very nearly the same feelings towards the ocean with me.
* The amount that an entity possesses a certain property; relative intensity, extent. [from 14th c.]
_To what DEGREE do the two accounts of the accident concur?_
* A stage of proficiency or qualification in a course of study, now especially an award bestowed by a university or, in some countries, a college, as a certification of academic achievement. (In the United States, can include secondary schools.) [from 14th c.]
_She has two bachelor's DEGREES and is studying towards a master's DEGREE._
* (geometry) A unit of measurement of angle equal to 1/360 of a circle's circumference. [from 14th c.]
_A right angle is a ninety DEGREE angle._
_Most humans have a field of vision of almost 180 DEGREES._
* (physics) A unit of measurement of temperature on any of several scales, such as Celsius or Fahrenheit. [from 18th c.]
_90 DEGREES Fahrenheit is equivalent to 32.2 DEGREES Celsius._
_Water boils at 100 DEGREES Celsius._
* (mathematics) The sum of the exponents of a term; the order of a polynomial. [from 18th c.]
* (graph theory) The number of edges that a vertex takes part in; a valency.
* (surveying) The curvature of a circular arc, expressed as the angle subtended by a fixed length of arc or chord.
SYNONYMS
* (unit of angle): °
* (unit of temperature): °
DERIVED TERMS
COORDINATE TERMS
* scale
USAGE NOTES
* A person who is engaged in a course of study leading to the earning of a degree can be described (in the present progressive tense) as "doing a degree" in British English, and as "getting a degree" in American English. For example, in American English, _"She is currently GETTING her master's degree at State University."_ In British English, _"I am still confused about when to use 'an' instead of 'a'. Is it an hour or a hour, and if someone is DOING a master's degree in arts, is it an MA or a MA?"_ (Ask Oxford.Com - Ask the Experts - Frequently Asked Questions (Grammar)).
TRANSLATIONS
degree (plural degrees)
-
(obsolete outside heraldry) A step on a set of stairs; the rung of a
ladder. [from 13th c.]
-
An individual step, or stage, in any process or scale of values. [from 13th c.]
-
A stage of rank or privilege; social standing. [from 13th c.]
-
(genealogy) A ‘step’ in genealogical descent. [from 14th c.]
-
(now rare) One's relative state or experience; way, manner. [from 14th c.]
-
The amount that an entity possesses a certain property; relative intensity, extent. [from 14th c.]
-
To what degree do the two accounts of the accident concur?
-
A stage of proficiency or qualification in a course of study, now especially an award bestowed by a university or, in some countries, a college, as a
certification of academic achievement. (In the United States, can include secondary schools.) [from
14th c.]
-
She has two bachelor's degrees and is studying towards a master's degree.
-
(geometry) A unit of measurement of angle equal to 1/360 of a circle's circumference. [from 14th c.]
-
A right angle is a ninety degree angle.
-
Most humans have a field of vision of almost 180 degrees.
-
(physics) A unit of measurement of temperature on any of several scales, such as Celsius or Fahrenheit. [from 18th c.]
-
90 degrees Fahrenheit is equivalent to 32.2 degrees Celsius.
-
Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.
-
(mathematics) The sum of the exponents of a
term; the order of a polynomial. [from 18th
c.]
-
(graph theory) The number of edges that a vertex takes part in; a valency.
-
(surveying) The curvature of a circular arc, expressed as the angle subtended by a fixed length of arc or chord.