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make the grade

 - 6 dictionary results

grade

[greyd] noun, verb, grad⋅ed, grad⋅ing.
–noun
1. a degree or step in a scale, as of rank, advancement, quality, value, or intensity: the best grade of paper.
2. a class of persons or things of the same relative rank, quality, etc.
3. a step or stage in a course or process.
4. a single division of a school classified according to the age or progress of the pupils. In the U.S., public schools are commonly divided into twelve grades below college.
5. the pupils in such a division.
6. grades, elementary school (usually prec. by the): He first began teaching in the grades.
7. a letter, number, or other symbol indicating the relative quality of a student's work in a course, examination, or special assignment; mark.
8. a classification or standard of food based on quality, size, etc.: grade A milk.
9. inclination with the horizontal of a road, railroad, etc., usually expressed by stating the vertical rise or fall as a percentage of the horizontal distance; slope.
10. Building Trades. Also called grade line. the level at which the ground intersects the foundation of a building.
11. an animal resulting from a cross between a parent of ordinary stock and one of a pure breed.
12. Mathematics. grad 2 .
–verb (used with object)
13. to arrange in a series of grades; class; sort: a machine that grades two thousand eggs per hour.
14. to determine the grade of.
15. to assign a grade to (a student's work); mark: I graded forty tests last night.
16. to cause to pass by degrees, as from one color or shade to another.
17. to reduce to a level or to practicable degrees of inclination: to grade a road.
18. to cross (an ordinary or low-grade animal) with an animal of a pure or superior breed.
–verb (used without object)
19. to incline; slant or slope: The road grades steeply for a mile.
20. to be of a particular grade or quality.
21. to pass by degrees from one color or shade to another; blend: See how the various colors grade into one another.
22. grade up, to improve (a herd, flock, etc.) by breeding with purebreds.
23. at grade,
a. on the same level: A railroad crosses a highway at grade.
b. (of a stream bed) so adjusted to conditions of slope and the volume and speed of water that no gain or loss of sediment takes place.
24. make the grade, to attain a specific goal; succeed: He'll never make the grade in medical school.
25. up to grade, of the desired or required quality: This shipment is not up to grade.

Origin:
1505–15; < F: office < L gradus step, stage, degree, deriv. of gradī to go, step, walk


13. classify, rank, rate, order, categorize.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To make the grade
make   (māk)   
v.   made (mād), mak·ing, makes

v.   tr.
  1. To cause to exist or happen; bring about; create: made problems for us; making a commotion.

  2. To bring into existence by shaping, modifying, or putting together material; construct: make a dress; made a stone wall.

  3. To form by assembling individuals or constituents: make a quorum.

  4. To change from one form or function to another: make clay into bricks.

    1. To cause to be or become: made her position clear; a decision that made him happy.

    2. To cause to assume a specified function or role: made her treasurer; made Austin his home.

    3. To cause to act in a specified manner: Heat makes gases expand.

    4. To compel: made him quit.

    5. To form in the mind: make an estimate.

    6. To compose: make verses.

    7. To prepare; fix: make dinner.

    8. To get ready or set in order for use: made the bed.

    9. To gather and light the materials for (a fire).

    10. To engage in: make war.

    11. To carry out; perform: make a phone call; make an incision.

    12. To institute or establish; enact: make laws.

    13. To draw up and execute in a suitable form: make a will.

    14. To arrange or agree to: make a date.

    15. To arrive at; reach: made Seattle in two hours.

    16. To reach in time: just made the plane.

    17. To attain the rank or position of: made lieutenant.

    18. To acquire a place in or on: made the baseball team; made the newspapers.

    19. To gain or earn, as by working: make money.

    20. To behave so as to acquire: make friends.

    21. To score or achieve, as in a sport: made a field goal.

    22. To assure the success of: Favorable reviews can make a play.

    23. To favor the development of: Practice makes a winning team.

    24. To draw a conclusion as to the significance or nature of: don't know what to make of the decision.

    25. To calculate as being; estimate: I make the height 20 feet.

    26. To consider as being: wasn't the problem some people made it.

    27. To constitute: Ten members make a quorum.

    28. To add up to: Two and two make four.

    29. To amount to: makes no difference.

    1. To cause to act in a specified manner: Heat makes gases expand.

    2. To compel: made him quit.

    3. To form in the mind: make an estimate.

    4. To compose: make verses.

    5. To prepare; fix: make dinner.

    6. To get ready or set in order for use: made the bed.

    7. To gather and light the materials for (a fire).

    8. To engage in: make war.

    9. To carry out; perform: make a phone call; make an incision.

    10. To institute or establish; enact: make laws.

    11. To draw up and execute in a suitable form: make a will.

    12. To arrange or agree to: make a date.

    13. To arrive at; reach: made Seattle in two hours.

    14. To reach in time: just made the plane.

    15. To attain the rank or position of: made lieutenant.

    16. To acquire a place in or on: made the baseball team; made the newspapers.

    17. To gain or earn, as by working: make money.

    18. To behave so as to acquire: make friends.

    19. To score or achieve, as in a sport: made a field goal.

    20. To assure the success of: Favorable reviews can make a play.

    21. To favor the development of: Practice makes a winning team.

    22. To draw a conclusion as to the significance or nature of: don't know what to make of the decision.

    23. To calculate as being; estimate: I make the height 20 feet.

    24. To consider as being: wasn't the problem some people made it.

    25. To constitute: Ten members make a quorum.

    26. To add up to: Two and two make four.

    27. To amount to: makes no difference.

    1. To form in the mind: make an estimate.

    2. To compose: make verses.

    3. To prepare; fix: make dinner.

    4. To get ready or set in order for use: made the bed.

    5. To gather and light the materials for (a fire).

    6. To engage in: make war.

    7. To carry out; perform: make a phone call; make an incision.

    8. To institute or establish; enact: make laws.

    9. To draw up and execute in a suitable form: make a will.

    10. To arrange or agree to: make a date.

    11. To arrive at; reach: made Seattle in two hours.

    12. To reach in time: just made the plane.

    13. To attain the rank or position of: made lieutenant.

    14. To acquire a place in or on: made the baseball team; made the newspapers.

    15. To gain or earn, as by working: make money.

    16. To behave so as to acquire: make friends.

    17. To score or achieve, as in a sport: made a field goal.

    18. To assure the success of: Favorable reviews can make a play.

    19. To favor the development of: Practice makes a winning team.

    20. To draw a conclusion as to the significance or nature of: don't know what to make of the decision.

    21. To calculate as being; estimate: I make the height 20 feet.

    22. To consider as being: wasn't the problem some people made it.

    23. To constitute: Ten members make a quorum.

    24. To add up to: Two and two make four.

    25. To amount to: makes no difference.

    1. To prepare; fix: make dinner.

    2. To get ready or set in order for use: made the bed.

    3. To gather and light the materials for (a fire).

    4. To engage in: make war.

    5. To carry out; perform: make a phone call; make an incision.

    6. To institute or establish; enact: make laws.

    7. To draw up and execute in a suitable form: make a will.

    8. To arrange or agree to: make a date.

    9. To arrive at; reach: made Seattle in two hours.

    10. To reach in time: just made the plane.

    11. To attain the rank or position of: made lieutenant.

    12. To acquire a place in or on: made the baseball team; made the newspapers.

    13. To gain or earn, as by working: make money.

    14. To behave so as to acquire: make friends.

    15. To score or achieve, as in a sport: made a field goal.

    16. To assure the success of: Favorable reviews can make a play.

    17. To favor the development of: Practice makes a winning team.

    18. To draw a conclusion as to the significance or nature of: don't know what to make of the decision.

    19. To calculate as being; estimate: I make the height 20 feet.

    20. To consider as being: wasn't the problem some people made it.

    21. To constitute: Ten members make a quorum.

    22. To add up to: Two and two make four.

    23. To amount to: makes no difference.

    1. To engage in: make war.

    2. To carry out; perform: make a phone call; make an incision.

    3. To institute or establish; enact: make laws.

    4. To draw up and execute in a suitable form: make a will.

    5. To arrange or agree to: make a date.

    6. To arrive at; reach: made Seattle in two hours.

    7. To reach in time: just made the plane.

    8. To attain the rank or position of: made lieutenant.

    9. To acquire a place in or on: made the baseball team; made the newspapers.

    10. To gain or earn, as by working: make money.

    11. To behave so as to acquire: make friends.

    12. To score or achieve, as in a sport: made a field goal.

    13. To assure the success of: Favorable reviews can make a play.

    14. To favor the development of: Practice makes a winning team.

    15. To draw a conclusion as to the significance or nature of: don't know what to make of the decision.

    16. To calculate as being; estimate: I make the height 20 feet.

    17. To consider as being: wasn't the problem some people made it.

    18. To constitute: Ten members make a quorum.

    19. To add up to: Two and two make four.

    20. To amount to: makes no difference.

  5. To achieve, produce, or attain: made peace between the two sides; not making sense; didn't make the quota.

    1. To institute or establish; enact: make laws.

    2. To draw up and execute in a suitable form: make a will.

    3. To arrange or agree to: make a date.

    4. To arrive at; reach: made Seattle in two hours.

    5. To reach in time: just made the plane.

    6. To attain the rank or position of: made lieutenant.

    7. To acquire a place in or on: made the baseball team; made the newspapers.

    8. To gain or earn, as by working: make money.

    9. To behave so as to acquire: make friends.

    10. To score or achieve, as in a sport: made a field goal.

    11. To assure the success of: Favorable reviews can make a play.

    12. To favor the development of: Practice makes a winning team.

    13. To draw a conclusion as to the significance or nature of: don't know what to make of the decision.

    14. To calculate as being; estimate: I make the height 20 feet.

    15. To consider as being: wasn't the problem some people made it.

    16. To constitute: Ten members make a quorum.

    17. To add up to: Two and two make four.

    18. To amount to: makes no difference.

    1. To arrive at; reach: made Seattle in two hours.

    2. To reach in time: just made the plane.

    3. To attain the rank or position of: made lieutenant.

    4. To acquire a place in or on: made the baseball team; made the newspapers.

    5. To gain or earn, as by working: make money.

    6. To behave so as to acquire: make friends.

    7. To score or achieve, as in a sport: made a field goal.

    8. To assure the success of: Favorable reviews can make a play.

    9. To favor the development of: Practice makes a winning team.

    10. To draw a conclusion as to the significance or nature of: don't know what to make of the decision.

    11. To calculate as being; estimate: I make the height 20 feet.

    12. To consider as being: wasn't the problem some people made it.

    13. To constitute: Ten members make a quorum.

    14. To add up to: Two and two make four.

    15. To amount to: makes no difference.

    1. To attain the rank or position of: made lieutenant.

    2. To acquire a place in or on: made the baseball team; made the newspapers.

    3. To gain or earn, as by working: make money.

    4. To behave so as to acquire: make friends.

    5. To score or achieve, as in a sport: made a field goal.

    6. To assure the success of: Favorable reviews can make a play.

    7. To favor the development of: Practice makes a winning team.

    8. To draw a conclusion as to the significance or nature of: don't know what to make of the decision.

    9. To calculate as being; estimate: I make the height 20 feet.

    10. To consider as being: wasn't the problem some people made it.

    11. To constitute: Ten members make a quorum.

    12. To add up to: Two and two make four.

    13. To amount to: makes no difference.

    1. To gain or earn, as by working: make money.

    2. To behave so as to acquire: make friends.

    3. To score or achieve, as in a sport: made a field goal.

    4. To assure the success of: Favorable reviews can make a play.

    5. To favor the development of: Practice makes a winning team.

    6. To draw a conclusion as to the significance or nature of: don't know what to make of the decision.

    7. To calculate as being; estimate: I make the height 20 feet.

    8. To consider as being: wasn't the problem some people made it.

    9. To constitute: Ten members make a quorum.

    10. To add up to: Two and two make four.

    11. To amount to: makes no difference.

    1. To assure the success of: Favorable reviews can make a play.

    2. To favor the development of: Practice makes a winning team.

    3. To draw a conclusion as to the significance or nature of: don't know what to make of the decision.

    4. To calculate as being; estimate: I make the height 20 feet.

    5. To consider as being: wasn't the problem some people made it.

    6. To constitute: Ten members make a quorum.

    7. To add up to: Two and two make four.

    8. To amount to: makes no difference.

  6. To be suited for: Oak makes strong furniture.

  7. To develop into: will make a fine doctor.

    1. To draw a conclusion as to the significance or nature of: don't know what to make of the decision.

    2. To calculate as being; estimate: I make the height 20 feet.

    3. To consider as being: wasn't the problem some people made it.

    4. To constitute: Ten members make a quorum.

    5. To add up to: Two and two make four.

    6. To amount to: makes no difference.

    1. To constitute: Ten members make a quorum.

    2. To add up to: Two and two make four.

    3. To amount to: makes no difference.

  8. To cover (a distance): made 200 miles before sunset

  9. To constitute the essence or nature of: Clothes make the man.

  10. To cause to be especially enjoyable or rewarding: You made my day.

  11. To appear to begin (an action): She made to leave.

  12. Slang To persuade to have sexual intercourse.

v.   intr.
  1. To act or behave in a specified manner: make merry; make free.

  2. To begin or appear to begin an action: made as if to shake my hand.

  3. To cause something to be as specified: make ready; make sure.

  4. To proceed in a certain direction: made for home; made after the thief.

  5. Slang To pretend to be; imitate. Used with like: made like a ballerina.

  6. To undergo fabrication or manufacture: This wool makes up into a warm shawl.

  7. To rise or accumulate: The tide is making.

n.  
  1. The act or process of making; manufacturing.

  2. The style or manner in which a thing is made: disliked the make of my coat.

  3. The amount produced, especially the output of a factory.

  4. A specific line of manufactured goods, identified by the manufacturer's name or the registered trademark: a famous make of shirt.

  5. The physical or moral nature of a person; character or disposition: found out what make of man he was.

  6. Slang Identification of a person or thing, often from information in police records: Did you get a make on the thief?

  7. To have or produce (a particular effect or result): small details that make for comfort.

  8. To help promote; further: makes for better communication.

  9. To discern or see, especially with difficulty: I could barely make out the traffic signs through the rain.

  10. To understand: could not make out what she said.

  11. To write out; draw up: made out the invoices.

  12. To fill in (a form, for example).

  13. Informal To represent as being: made me out to be a liar.

  14. Informal To try to establish or prove: He made out that he was innocent.

  15. To get along in a given way; fare: made out well in business.

  16. Slang

    1. To neck; pet.

    2. To have sexual intercourse.

    3. To alter one's appearance for a role on the stage, as with a costume and cosmetics.

    4. To apply cosmetics.

    5. To make good (a deficit or lack): made up the difference in the bill.

    6. To compensate for: make up for lost time.

  17. To redo; renovate.

  18. To change or transfer the ownership of, usually by means of a legal document: made over the property to her son.

  19. To put together; construct or compose: make up a prescription.

  20. To constitute; form: Ten years make up a decade.

    1. To alter one's appearance for a role on the stage, as with a costume and cosmetics.

    2. To apply cosmetics.

    3. To make good (a deficit or lack): made up the difference in the bill.

    4. To compensate for: make up for lost time.

  21. To devise as a fiction or falsehood; invent: made up an excuse.

    1. To make good (a deficit or lack): made up the difference in the bill.

    2. To compensate for: make up for lost time.

  22. To resolve a quarrel: kissed and made up.

  23. To make ingratiating or fawning overtures. Used with to: made up to his friend's boss.

  24. To take (an examination or course) again or at a later time because of previous absence or failure.

  25. To set in order: make up a room.

  26. Printing To select and arrange material for: made up the front page.

  27. To bring into use: a flirt making with the eyes.

  28. To put forth; produce: always making with the jokes.

Phrasal Verb(s):
make for
  1. To have or produce (a particular effect or result): small details that make for comfort.

  2. To help promote; further: makes for better communication.

make offTo depart in haste; run away.
make out
  1. To discern or see, especially with difficulty: I could barely make out the traffic signs through the rain.

  2. To understand: could not make out what she said.

  3. To write out; draw up: made out the invoices.

  4. To fill in (a form, for example).

  5. Informal To represent as being: made me out to be a liar.

  6. Informal To try to establish or prove: He made out that he was innocent.

  7. To get along in a given way; fare: made out well in business.

  8. Slang

    1. To neck; pet.

    2. To have sexual intercourse.

make over
  1. To redo; renovate.

  2. To change or transfer the ownership of, usually by means of a legal document: made over the property to her son.

make up
  1. To put together; construct or compose: make up a prescription.

  2. To constitute; form: Ten years make up a decade.

    1. To alter one's appearance for a role on the stage, as with a costume and cosmetics.

    2. To apply cosmetics.

    3. To make good (a deficit or lack): made up the difference in the bill.

    4. To compensate for: make up for lost time.

  3. To devise as a fiction or falsehood; invent: made up an excuse.

    1. To make good (a deficit or lack): made up the difference in the bill.

    2. To compensate for: make up for lost time.

  4. To resolve a quarrel: kissed and made up.

  5. To make ingratiating or fawning overtures. Used with to: made up to his friend's boss.

  6. To take (an examination or course) again or at a later time because of previous absence or failure.

  7. To set in order: make up a room.

  8. Printing To select and arrange material for: made up the front page.

make with Slang
  1. To bring into use: a flirt making with the eyes.

  2. To put forth; produce: always making with the jokes.


Idiom(s):
make a clean breast ofTo confess fully.

Idiom(s):
make a faceTo distort the features of the face; grimace.

Idiom(s):
make a go ofTo achieve success in: have made a go of the business.

Idiom(s):
make away with
  1. To carry off; steal.

  2. To use up or consume.

  3. To kill or destroy.


Idiom(s):
make believeTo pretend.

Idiom(s):
make boldTo venture: I will not make so bold as to criticize such a scholar.

Idiom(s):
make bookTo accept bets on a race, game, or contest.

Idiom(s):
make doTo manage to get along with the means available: had to make do on less income.

Idiom(s):
make ends meetTo manage so that one's means are sufficient for one's needs.

Idiom(s):
make eyesTo ogle.

Idiom(s):
make fun ofTo mock; ridicule.

Idiom(s):
make good
  1. To carry out successfully: made good his escape.

  2. To fulfill: made good her promise.

  3. To make compensation for; make up for: made good the loss.

  4. To succeed: made good as a writer.


Idiom(s):
make hayTo turn to one's advantage: The candidate's opponents made hay of the scandal.

Idiom(s):
make heads or tails ofTo understand: I couldn't make heads or tails of the report.

Idiom(s):
make historyTo do something memorable or spectacular enough to influence the course of history: The first space flight made history.

Idiom(s):
make it
  1. Informal To achieve a goal; be successful. finally made it as an actor.

  2. Slang To have sexual intercourse.


Idiom(s):
make light ofTo treat as unimportant: He made light of his illness.

Idiom(s):
make love
  1. To engage in amorous caressing.

  2. To engage in sexual intercourse.


Idiom(s):
make much ofTo treat as of great importance.

Idiom(s):
make no bones aboutTo be forthright and candid about; acknowledge freely: They make no bones about their dislike for each other.

Idiom(s):
make off withTo snatch or steal: made off with the profits.

Idiom(s):
make (one's) dayTo give one great pleasure.

Idiom(s):
make (one's) peace withTo bring oneself to accept; reconcile oneself to.

Idiom(s):
make (one's) way
  1. To go forward; advance.

  2. To succeed, especially in making a living.


Idiom(s):
make sail
  1. To begin a voyage.

  2. To set sail.


Idiom(s):
make sense
  1. To be coherent or intelligible: an explanation that made sense.

  2. To be practical or advisable: It makes sense to go now.


Idiom(s):
make something ofTo start a fight or quarrel over.

Idiom(s):
make the gradeTo measure up to a given standard.

Idiom(s):
make the most ofTo use to the greatest advantage.

Idiom(s):
make the scene Slang
  1. To put in an appearance: made the scene at the party.

  2. To participate in a specified activity: made the drug scene.


Idiom(s):
make time
  1. To travel speedily.

  2. To travel at a specified rate: We made good time getting to town.

  3. Slang To make progress toward attracting someone: tried to make time with the new neighbor.


Idiom(s):
make tracks Slang To move or leave in a hurry.

Idiom(s):
make up (one's) mindTo decide between alternatives; come to a definite decision or opinion.

Idiom(s):
make waves Slang To cause a disturbance or controversy.

Idiom(s):
make way
  1. To give room for passage; move aside.

  2. To make progress.


Idiom(s):
on the make Slang
  1. Aggressively striving for financial or social improvement: a young executive on the make.

  2. Eagerly seeking a sexual partner.


[Middle English maken, from Old English macian; see mag- in Indo-European roots.]
mak'a·ble, make'a·ble adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

grade  (n.)
1511, from Fr. grade "grade, degree," from L. gradus "step, degree," replacing M.E. gree "step, degree in a series," from O.Fr. grei "step," from L. gradus, related to gradi "to walk, step, go," from PIE *ghredh- (cf. Lith. gridiju "to go, wander," O.C.S. gredo "to come," O.Ir. in-greinn "he pursues," and second element in congress, progress, etc.). The verb is 1659, from the noun. Railway sense is from 1835. Meaning "division of a school curriculum equivalent to one year" is from 1835; that of "letter-mark indicating assessment of a student's work" is from 1886.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: grade
Pronunciation: 'grAd
Function: noun
: a degree of severity of a disease or abnormal condition grade III carcinoma>
Science Dictionary
grade   (grād)  Pronunciation Key 
  1. The degree of inclination of a slope, road, or other surface.

  2. A grouping of organisms done purely on the basis of shared features and without regard to evolutionary relationships. Grades may include organisms that do not share a common ancestor, or may exclude some organisms having the same common ancestor as the other organisms in the grade. For this reason, many taxonomists do not accept grades as formal classifications. The class Reptilia (reptiles) is a grade since it includes dinosaurs but not birds, even though birds are descended from dinosaurs. Compare clade.


The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Idioms & Phrases

make the grade

Satisfy the requirements, qualify; also, succeed. For example, Angela hoped her work in the new school would make the grade, or Barbara certainly has made the grade as a trial lawyer. This expression uses grade in the sense of "accepted standard." [c. 1900]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
Cite This Source
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