DEGRADE


Meaning of DEGRADE in English

transcription, транскрипция: [ di-ˈgrād, dē- ]

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 -ˈgrā-diŋ-lē adverb

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.