Nearby Words

degrade

[dih-greyd or, for 3, dee-greyd] Example Sentences Origin

de·grade

[dih-greyd or, for 3, dee-greyd] verb, -grad·ed, -grad·ing.
verb (used with object)
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, especially as a punishment: degraded from director to assistant director.
4.
to reduce in amount, strength, intensity, etc.
5.
Physical Geography. to wear down by erosion, as hills. Compare aggrade.
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6.
Chemistry. to break down (a compound, especially an organic hydrocarbon).
COLLAPSE
verb (used without object)
7.
to become degraded; weaken or worsen; deteriorate.
8.
Chemistry. (especially of an organic hydrocarbon compound) to break down or decompose.

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Degrade is a GRE word you need to know.
So is deduce. Does it mean:
lacking some element or characteristic
to derive as a conclusion from something known or assumed

Origin:
1275–1325; Middle English degraden < Late Latin dēgradāre, equivalent to Latin dē- de- + grad(us) grade + -āre infinitive suffix

de·grad·er, noun


1. disgrace, dishonor, discredit. See humble. 2. abase, vitiate. 3. demote, depose, downgrade, lower, cashier, break.


1, 2. exalt. 3. promote.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source Link To degrade
Example Sentences
  • On the other hand, if you degrade and devalue that bureaucracy, it will do a heckuva job.
  • Whites seem only to recognize that segment of the population they can pity or degrade.
  • In modest amount, natural processes and bacteria degrade oil fairly quickly, especially in warm climates.
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Collins
World English Dictionary
degrade (dɪˈɡreɪd)
 
vb
1.  (tr) to reduce in worth, character, etc; disgrace; dishonour
2.  (tr) to reduce in rank, status, or degree; remove from office; demote
3.  (tr) to reduce in strength, quality, intensity, etc
4.  Compare aggrade to reduce or be reduced by erosion or down-cutting, as a land surface or bed of a river
5.  chem to decompose or be decomposed into atoms or smaller molecules
 
[C14: from Late Latin dēgradāre, from Latin de- + gradus rank, degree]
 
de'grader
 
n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

degrade
early 14c., from O.Fr. degrader (12c.), from des- "down" + L. gradus "step" (see grade).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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