I. ˈgrād noun
Etymology: Latin gradus step, degree, from Latin gradi to step, go; akin to Lithuanian gridyti to go, wander
Date: 1526
1.
a.
(1) : a position in a scale of ranks or qualities
(2) : a stage in a process
b. : a degree of severity in illness
grade III carcinoma
c. : a class organized for the work of a particular year of a school course
d. : a military or naval rank
2.
a. : a class of things of the same stage or degree
b. : a mark indicating a degree of accomplishment in school
c. : a standard of food quality
3.
a. : the degree of inclination of a road or slope ; also : a sloping road
b. : a datum or reference level ; especially : ground level
4. : a domestic animal with one parent purebred and the other of inferior breeding
5. plural : the elementary school system
• grade·less -ləs adjective
II. verb
( grad·ed ; grad·ing )
Date: 1659
transitive verb
1.
a. : to arrange in grades : sort
b. : to arrange in a scale or series
c. : to assign to a grade or assign a grade to
2. : to level off to a smooth horizontal or sloping surface
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to form a series
b. : blend
2. : to be of a particular grade
• grad·able ˈgrā-də-bəl adjective
III. adjective
Date: 1852
: being, involving, or yielding domestic animals of improved but not pure stock
grade ewes
grade breeding