degree

de-gree · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    A unit of measurement for angles or temperature.

  2. 2.

    The amount or level of something.

  3. 3.

    An academic title conferred by a university.

  4. 4.

    A stage in a scale or series.

  5. 5.

    The seriousness of a crime.

Forms

plural: degrees

Related words

See also: education, level, temperature
Synonyms: extent, level, measure, qualification

Etymology

From Old French degre, from Latin de- meaning "down" and gradus meaning "step." The original sense was of a step on a staircase, extended metaphorically to levels of rank, measurement, and achievement.