Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Degrade
De-grade′
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Degraded
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Degrading
.] 1.
To reduce from a higher to a lower rank or degree; to lower in rank; to deprive of office or dignity; to strip of honors;
as, to
. degrade
a nobleman, or a general officerPrynne was sentenced by the Star Chamber Court to be
degraded
from the bar. Palfrey.
2.
To reduce in estimation, character, or reputation; to lessen the value of; to lower the physical, moral, or intellectual character of; to debase; to bring shame or contempt upon; to disgrace;
as, vice
. degrades
a manO miserable mankind, to what fall
Degraded
, to what wretched state reserved! Milton.
Yet time ennobles or
degrades
each line. Pope.
Her pride . . . struggled hard against this
degrading
passion. Macaulay.
Syn. – To abase; demean; lower; reduce. See
Abase
. De-grade′
,Verb.
I.
(Biol.)
To degenerate; to pass from a higher to a lower type of structure;
as, a family of plants or animals
. degrades
through this or that genus or group of generaWebster 1828 Edition
Degrade
DEGRADE
,Verb.
T.
1.
To reduce from a higher to a lower rank or degree; to deprive one of any office or dignity, by which he loses rank in society; to strip of honors; as, to degrade a nobleman, an archbishop or a general officer.2.
To reduce in estimation; to lessen the value of ; to lower; to sink. Vice degrades a man in the view of others; often in his own view. Drunkenness degrades a man to the level of a beast.3.
To reduce in altitude or magnitude.Although the ridge is still there, the ridge itself has been degraded.
Definition 2024
degrade
degrade
English
Verb
degrade (third-person singular simple present degrades, present participle degrading, simple past and past participle degraded)
- (transitive) To lower in value or social position.
- Fred degrades himself by his behaviour.
- Palfrey
- Prynne was sentenced by the Star Chamber Court to be degraded from the bar.
- (intransitive) To reduce in quality or purity.
- The DNA sample has degraded.
- (transitive, geology) To reduce in altitude or magnitude, as hills and mountains; to wear down.
Derived terms
Translations
to lower in value or social position
to reduce in quality or purity
to reduce in altitude or magnitude, as hills and mountains; to wear down
Portuguese
Verb
degrade
- first-person singular present subjunctive of degradar
- third-person singular present subjunctive of degradar
- third-person singular imperative of degradar
Spanish
Verb
degrade
- Formal second-person singular (usted) imperative form of degradar.
- First-person singular (yo) present subjunctive form of degradar.
- Formal second-person singular (usted) present subjunctive form of degradar.
- Third-person singular (él, ella, also used with usted?) present subjunctive form of degradar.