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to a degree

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de⋅gree

  [di-gree]
Use to a degree in a Sentence
–noun
1. any of a series of steps or stages, as in a process or course of action; a point in any scale.
2. a stage or point in or as if in progression or retrogression: We followed the degrees of her recovery with joy.
3. a stage in a scale of intensity or amount: a high degree of mastery.
4. extent, measure, scope, or the like: To what degree will he cooperate?
5. a stage in a scale of rank or station; relative standing in society, business, etc.: His uncouth behavior showed him to be a man of low degree.
6. Education. an academic title conferred by universities and colleges as an indication of the completion of a course of study, or as an honorary recognition of achievement.
7. a unit of measure, as of temperature or pressure, marked off on the scale of a measuring instrument: This thermometer shows a scale of degrees between only 20° and 40° C.
8. Geometry. the 360th part of a complete angle or turn, often represented by the sign°, as in 45°, which is read as 45 degrees. Compare angle 1 (def. 1c).
9. the distinctive classification of a crime according to its gravity: murder in the first degree.
10. Grammar. one of the parallel formations of adjectives and adverbs used to express differences in quality, quantity, or intensity. In English, low and careful are the positive degree, lower and more careful are the comparative degree, lowest and most careful are the superlative degree.
11. Mathematics.
a. the sum of the exponents of the variables in an algebraic term: x3 and 2x2y are terms of degree three.
b. the term of highest degree of a given equation or polynomial: The expression 3x2y + y2 + 1 is of degree three.
c. the exponent of the derivative of highest order appearing in a given differential equation.
12. Music. a tone or step of the scale.
13. Astrology. any of the 360 equal divisions of the ecliptic measured counterclockwise from the vernal equinox. Each of the 12 signs of the zodiac contains 30 degrees.
14. a certain distance or remove in the line of descent, determining the proximity of relationship: a cousin of the second degree.
15. Archaic. a line or point on the earth or the celestial sphere, as defined by degrees of latitude.
16. Obsolete. a step, as of a stair.
—Idioms
17. by degrees, by easy stages; gradually: She grew angrier by degrees.
18. to a degree,
a. to a considerable extent; exceedingly.
b. to a small extent; somewhat: He is to a degree difficult to get along with.
Origin:
1200–50; ME degre < AF, OF < VL *dēgradus; see de-, grade

Related forms:
de⋅greed, adjective
de⋅gree⋅less, adjective

Synonyms:
2. step, mark, grade, level, phase.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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de·gree   (dĭ-grē')   
n.  

  1. One of a series of steps in a process, course, or progression; a stage: proceeded to the next degree of difficulty.

  2. A step in a direct hereditary line of descent or ascent: First cousins are two degrees from their common ancestor.

  3. Relative social or official rank, dignity, or position.

  4. Relative intensity or amount, as of a quality or attribute: a high degree of accuracy.

  5. The extent or measure of a state of being, an action, or a relation: modernized their facilities to a large degree.

  6. A unit division of a temperature scale.

  7. Mathematics A planar unit of angular measure equal in magnitude to 1/360 of a complete revolution.

  8. A unit of latitude or longitude, equal to 1/360 of a great circle.

  9. Mathematics

    1. The greatest sum of the exponents of the variables in a term of a polynomial or polynomial equation.

    2. The exponent of the derivative of highest order in a differential equation in standard form.

    3. An academic title given by a college or university to a student who has completed a course of study: received the Bachelor of Arts degree at commencement.

    4. A similar title conferred as an honorary distinction.

    5. One of the seven notes of a diatonic scale.

    6. A space or line of the staff.

    1. An academic title given by a college or university to a student who has completed a course of study: received the Bachelor of Arts degree at commencement.

    2. A similar title conferred as an honorary distinction.

    3. One of the seven notes of a diatonic scale.

    4. A space or line of the staff.

  11. Law A division or classification of a specific crime according to its seriousness: murder in the second degree.

  12. A classification of the severity of an injury, especially a burn: a third-degree burn.

  13. Grammar One of the forms used in the comparison of adjectives and adverbs. For example, tall is the positive degree, taller the comparative degree, and tallest the superlative degree of the adjective tall.

  14. Music

    1. One of the seven notes of a diatonic scale.

    2. A space or line of the staff.


[Middle English degre, from Old French, from Vulgar Latin *dēgradus : Latin dē-, de- + Latin gradus, step; see ghredh- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Cultural Dictionary

degree

In geometry, a unit of measurement of angles, 1/360 of a circle. In physics, a unit of temperature (see Celsius, Fahrenheit, and Kelvin scale). A degree on the Fahrenheit scale is smaller than a degree on the Celsius or Kelvin scale. Degrees on the Celsius and Kelvin scales are the same size.

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

degree 
c.1230, from O.Fr. degre "a degree, step, rank," from V.L. *degradus "a step," from L.L. degredare, from L. de- "down" + gradus "step" (see grade). Most modern senses date from M.E., from notion of a hierarchy of steps. Meaning "a grade of crime" is 1676; that of "a unit of temperature" is from 1727. The division of the circle into 360 degrees is very ancient and was known in Babylon and Egypt. It is perhaps from the daily motion of the sun through the zodiac in the course of a year.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: de·gree
Function: noun
1 : a step in a direct line of descent or in the line of ascent to a common ancestor
2 a : a measure of the seriousness of a crime —see also FIFTH DEGREE, FIRST DEGREE,, FOURTH DEGREE, SECOND DEGREE, THIRD DEGREE
NOTE: Crimes are rated by degrees for the purpose of imposing more severe punishments for more serious crimes. b : a measure of care; also : a measure of negligence esp. in connection with bailments —see also CARE, NEGLIGENCE
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: de·gree
Pronunciation: di-'grE
Function: noun
1 : a measure of damage to tissue caused by injury or disease —see FIRST-DEGREE BURN SECOND-DEGREE BURNTHIRD-DEGREE BURN
2 a : a title conferred on students by a college, university, or professionalschool on completion of a unified program of study b : an academic title conferred honorarily
3 : one of the divisions or intervals marked on a scale of ameasuring instrument; specifically : any of various units for measuring temperature
4 : a 360th part of the circumference of a circle —de·greed /-'grEd/ adjective
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

degree de·gree (dĭ-grē')
n.


  1. Abbr. deg, deg. A unit of measure on a temperature scale.

  2. A division of a circle, equal to 1/360 of its circumference.

  3. A position or rank within a graded series.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Science Dictionary
degree   (dĭ-grē')  Pronunciation Key 

  1. A unit division of a temperature scale.

    1. A unit for measuring an angle or an arc of a circle. One degree is 1/360 of the circumference of a circle.

    2. This unit used to measure latitude or longitude on the Earth's surface.

  3. The greatest sum of the exponents of the variables in a term of a polynomial or polynomial equation. For example, x3 + 2xy + x is of the third degree.


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

to a degree

Also, to an extent. See to some degree.

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