— degrader , n.
/di grayd"/ or, for 3, /dee grayd"/ , v. , degraded, degrading .
v.t.
1. to lower in dignity or estimation; bring into contempt: He felt they were degrading him by making him report to the supervisor.
2. to lower in character or quality; debase.
3. to reduce (someone) to a lower rank, degree, etc.; deprive of office, rank, status, or title, esp. as a punishment: degraded from director to assistant director.
4. to reduce in amount, strength, intensity, etc.
5. Physical Geog. to wear down by erosion, as hills. Cf. aggrade .
6. Chem. to break down (a compound, esp. an organic hydrocarbon).
v.i.
7. to become degraded; weaken or worsen; deteriorate.
8. Chem. (esp. of an organic hydrocarbon compound) to break down or decompose.
[ 1275-1325; ME degraden degradare, equiv. to L de- DE- + grad ( us ) GRADE + -are inf. suffix ]
Syn. 1. disgrace, dishonor, discredit. See humble. 2. abase, vitiate. 3. demote, depose, downgrade, lower, cashier, break.
Ant. 1, 2. exalt. 3. promote.