degrade
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de·grade
(dĭ-grād′)v. de·grad·ed, de·grad·ing, de·grades
v.tr.
1. To lower in quality or value; make inferior or less valuable: land that was degraded by overgrazing; a virus that degrades the computer's performance.
2. To lower in dignity; dishonor or disgrace: seemed to feel that he was degrading himself in accepting the invitation. See Synonyms at debase.
3. To reduce in grade, rank, or status; demote.
4. Geology To lower or wear away by erosion or weathering.
5. To cause (an organic compound) to undergo degradation.
v.intr.
1. To fall to a lower rank or status.
2. To undergo degradation; decompose: a chemical that degrades rapidly.
[Middle English degraden, from Old French degrader, from Late Latin dēgradāre : Latin dē-, de- + Latin gradus, step; see ghredh- in Indo-European roots.]
de·grad′er n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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. (Physical Geography) to reduce or be reduced by erosion or down-cutting, as a land surface or bed of a river. Compare aggrade
5. (Chemistry) chem to decompose or be decomposed into atoms or smaller molecules
[C14: from Late Latin dēgradāre, from Latin de- + gradus rank, degree]
deˈgrader n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
de•grade
(dɪˈgreɪd or, for 3, di-)v. -grad•ed, -grad•ing. v.t.
1. to lower in dignity or estimation; bring into contempt.
2. to lower in character or quality; debase.
3. to reduce (someone) to a lower rank, etc., esp. as a punishment.
4. to reduce in amount, strength, intensity, etc.
5. to wear down by erosion, as hills. Compare aggrade.
6. to break down (an organic compound).
v.i. 7. to worsen; deteriorate.
8. (esp. of an organic compound) to break down or decompose.
[1275–1325; Middle English < Late Latin dēgradāre= Latin dē- de- + -gradāre, derivative of Latin gradus grade]
de•grad′er, n.
de•grad′ing•ly, adv.
syn: See humble.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
degrade
Past participle: degraded
Gerund: degrading
| Imperative |
|---|
| degrade |
| degrade |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
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| Verb | 1. | degrade - reduce the level of land, as by erosion aggrade - build up to a level by depositing sediment |
| 2. | degrade - reduce in worth or character, usually verbally; "She tends to put down younger women colleagues"; "His critics took him down after the lecture" abase, chagrin, humiliate, humble, mortify - cause to feel shame; hurt the pride of; "He humiliated his colleague by criticising him in front of the boss" reduce - lower in grade or rank or force somebody into an undignified situation; "She reduced her niece to a servant" dehumanise, dehumanize - deprive of human qualities; "Life in poverty has dehumanized them" | |
| 3. | degrade - lower the grade of something; reduce its worth |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
degrade
verb
1. demean, disgrace, humiliate, injure, shame, corrupt, humble, discredit, pervert, debase, dishonour, cheapen Pornography degrades women.
demean honour, enhance, dignify, ennoble
demean honour, enhance, dignify, ennoble
2. damage, injure, harm, mar, undermine, weaken, spoil, impair the ability to meet human needs without degrading the environment
3. break down, decay, degenerate, atrophy This substance degrades rapidly in the soil.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
degrade
verb2. To deprive of esteem, self-worth, or effectiveness:
Idioms: bring low, take down a peg.
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
TranslationsSelect a language:
Spanish / Español
degrade
[dɪˈgreɪd]A. VT
2. (Chem, Phys) (= break down) → degradar
B. VI
1. (gen) → degradarse
2. (Chem, Phys) (= break down) → degradarse
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
degrade
(diˈgreid) verb to disgrace or make contemptible. He felt degraded by having to ask for money.degradar
deˈgrading adjective tending to make lower in rank etc or to disgrace. a degrading occupation.degradante
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.