de ‧ gree S2 W1 /dɪˈɡriː/ BrE AmE noun
[ Date: 1200-1300 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: degré , from Latin gradus 'step, grade' ]
1 . [countable] ( written abbreviation deg. ) a unit for measuring temperature. It can be shown as a symbol after a number. For example, 70º means 70 degrees:
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
20 degrees Celsius/70 degrees Fahrenheit/1 degree Centigrade etc
The temperature dropped to five degrees Centigrade.
2 . [countable] ( written abbreviation deg. ) a unit for measuring the size of an angle. It can be shown as a symbol after a number. For example, 18º means 18 degrees:
Then the cylinder is rotated 180 degrees.
3 . [uncountable and countable] the level or amount of something
degree of
1960s Britain was characterised by a greater degree of freedom than before.
Newspapers vary in the degree to which they emphasize propaganda rather than information.
4 . to a degree ( also to some degree/to a certain degree ) partly:
To a degree, it is possible to educate oneself.
We’re all willing to support him to some degree.
5 . [countable] a course of study at a university or college, or the ↑ qualification that is given to you when you have successfully completed the course
degree in
a degree in Economics
Applicants must have a degree in Engineering.
an Honours degree
6 . by degrees very slowly SYN gradually :
By degrees, he forced himself into a sitting position.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 5)
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + degree
▪ a good degree (=that you pass at a good level)
Mature students are more likely to get a good degree.
▪ a university/college degree
For many jobs you need to have a university degree.
▪ a first-class/second-class/third-class degree (=the level at which you pass a degree at a British university)
She was awarded a first-class degree.
▪ an honours degree (=a British university degree that is above pass level)
The ideal candidate will have an honours degree.
▪ a first/undergraduate degree (=the lowest level of degree)
First degrees usually take three or four years.
▪ a higher/postgraduate degree (=one that you take after a first degree)
He was offered a grant for a postgraduate degree.
▪ a master's degree (=a higher degree for which you study for one or two years)
She's taking her master's degree.
▪ a science degree (=in a science subject)
The government is encouraging more people to get a science degree.
▪ an arts degree (=in a subject that is not science)
She has an arts degree from Sussex University.
▪ a history/chemistry/law etc degree
I decided to do a Maths degree.
▪ a joint degree British English (=in which you study two subjects)
a joint degree in Economics and Statistics
▪ a research degree (=a higher degree for which you do your own research)
■ verbs
▪ have a degree
You will earn more if you have a college degree.
▪ hold a degree formal (=have one)
The ideal candidate will hold a degree in physical chemistry.
▪ do/take a degree in something (=study for a degree)
Not enough students are taking degrees in Physics.
▪ get/gain a degree
She worked hard and got a good degree.
▪ be awarded a degree formal (=get one)
At the end of the three years, he was awarded a first-class honours degree.
■ nouns
▪ a degree course
I didn't enjoy the first year of my degree course.
▪ degree level
Candidates should be educated to degree level.