English Explanatory Dictionary

degrade

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To lower in value or social position.
  2. To reduce in quality or purity.
  3. To reduce in altitude or magnitude, as hills and mountains; to wear down.

Pronunciation

/dɪˈɡɹeɪd/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-degrade.wav /diˈɡɹeɪd/ /dɪˈɡɹæɪd/

Word forms

degrade degrades degrading degraded

Etymology

From Middle French dégrader.

Synonyms

abase debase demean avile debauch degrade depreciate devalue devaluate dirty elevate vitiate bring down to size cut down to size defame demote depress discredit disgrace dishonour disparage downgrade embase give a bad name humble humiliate knock down to size put someone in their place reduce relegate sink slur trim down to size whittle down to size

Derived words

biodegrade degradability degradable degradant degradation degradee degrade gracefully degradement degrader degradome degradomics degradosome degron photodegrade
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