Definition of: degenerate

(di·jen′ə·rāt) v.i. ·at·ed, ·at·ing
1. To become worse or inferior.
2. Biol. To revert to a lower type; decline; deteriorate.
—adjective (di·jen′ər·it)
1. Having become worse or inferior; deteriorated; degraded.
2. Physics Having a common value of energy but differing in other dynamical properties.
—noun (-it)
1. A deteriorated or degraded individual, animal or human.
2. A morally degraded person. [<L degeneratus, pp. of degenerare <de- down, away + generare create]
—de·gen′er·ate·ly adverb
—de·gen′er·a′tive adjective
—de·gen′er·ate·ness noun