DEGRADE


Meaning of DEGRADE in English

v.

Pronunciation: di- ' gr ā d, d ē -

Function: verb

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French degrader, from Late Latin degradare, from Latin de- + gradus step, grade ― more at GRADE

Date: 14th century

transitive verb

1 a : to lower in grade, rank, or status : DEMOTE b : to strip of rank or honors c : to lower to an inferior or less effective level < degrade the image quality> d : to scale down in desirability or salability

2 a : to bring to low esteem or into disrepute <his actions have degraded his profession> b : to drag down in moral or intellectual character : CORRUPT

3 : to impair in respect to some physical property <material degraded by exposure to sunlight>

4 : to wear down by erosion

5 : to reduce the complexity of (a chemical compound) : DECOMPOSE

intransitive verb

1 : to pass from a higher grade or class to a lower

2 of a chemical compound : to become reduced in complexity

– de · grad · er noun

– de · grad · ing · ly \ - ' gr ā -di ŋ -l ē \ adverb

Merriam Webster Collegiate English Dictionary.      Merriam Webster - Энциклопедический словарь английского языка.