DEGENERATE


Meaning of DEGENERATE in English

(~d)

1.

If you say that someone or something ~s, you mean that they become worse in some way, for example weaker, lower in quality, or more dangerous.

Inactivity can make your joints stiff, and the bones may begin to ~...

...a very serious humanitarian crisis which could ~ into a catastrophe.

= deteriorate

VERB: V, V into n

degeneration

...various forms of physical and mental degeneration.

N-UNCOUNT

2.

If you describe a person or their behaviour as ~, you disapprove of them because you think they have low standards of behaviour or morality.

...a group of ~ computer hackers.

ADJ disapproval

3.

If you refer to someone as a ~, you disapprove of them because you think they have low standards of behaviour or morality.

N-COUNT disapproval

Collins COBUILD.      Толковый словарь английского языка для изучающих язык Коллинз COBUILD (международная база данных языков Бирмингемского университета) .