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degree

n.
US //dɪˈɡɹi// UK //dɪɡɹˈiː// de·gree
  1. 1 university qualification (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    a qualification given by a college or university after you finish your studies.

    an academic rank or title conferred by a university or college as a certification of completion of a course of study.

    Example

    After four years of hard work, she finally received her degree in history.

    Example

    He decided to pursue a master's degree in international relations to improve his prospects in the diplomatic service.
  2. 2 temperature (n.)
    A2 Elementary Science

    a unit used to measure how hot or cold something is.

    a unit of measurement on a temperature scale such as Celsius, Fahrenheit, or Kelvin.

    Example

    Water freezes at zero degrees Celsius.

    Example

    The laboratory oven must be kept at exactly two hundred degrees to ensure the chemical reaction occurs correctly.

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  1. 3 amount or extent (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    the amount or level of a feeling, quality, or action.

    the extent, measure, or scope of an action, condition, or relation.

    Example

    I agree with you to a certain degree, but I still have some concerns.

    Example

    The success of the project depends to a large degree on the cooperation between the different departments.
  2. 4 angles and math (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Math

    a unit for measuring angles or parts of a circle.

    a unit of measurement of an angle, equal to one three-hundred-and-sixtieth of a full circle.

    Example

    A square has four corners that are all ninety degrees.

    Example

    The navigator calculated that the ship needed to turn thirty degrees to the east to avoid the storm.

  3. 5 geography (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Science

    a unit used to show a position on a map using latitude and longitude.

    a unit of measurement for latitude and longitude used to identify a specific location on the Earth's surface.

    Example

    The city is located at thirty-five degrees north latitude.

    Example

    Each degree of latitude is approximately sixty-nine miles apart, regardless of the observer's position on the globe.

  4. 6 grammar comparison (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical

    the different forms of an adjective, like 'big', 'bigger', and 'biggest'.

    any of the three stages (positive, comparative, and superlative) in the comparison of adjectives and adverbs.

    Example

    In the sentence 'He is the tallest', the word 'tallest' is in the superlative degree.

    Example

    The teacher explained how to form the comparative degree for irregular adjectives like 'good' and 'bad'.

Origin

From Middle English degre, borrowed from Old French degré (French: degré), itself from Latin gradus, with the prefix de-.

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