n.
Pronunciation: di- ' jen-r ə t, - ' je-n ə -, d ē -
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English degenerat, from Latin degeneratus, past participle of degenerare to degenerate, from de- + gener-, genus race, kind ― more at KIN
Date: 15th century
1 a : having declined or become less specialized (as in nature, character, structure, or function) from an ancestral or former state b : having sunk to a condition below that which is normal to a type especially : having sunk to a lower and usually corrupt and vicious state c : DEGRADED 2
2 : being mathematically simpler (as by having a factor or constant equal to zero) than the typical case <a degenerate hyperbola>
3 : characterized by atoms stripped of their electrons and by very great density < degenerate matter> also : consisting of degenerate matter <a degenerate star>
4 : having two or more states or subdivisions < degenerate energy level>
5 : having more than one codon representing an amino acid also : being such a codon
synonyms see VICIOUS
– de · gen · er · ate · ly adverb
– de · gen · er · ate · ness noun