Definition of: degree

(di·grē′) noun
1. One of a succession of steps, grades, or stages.
2. Relative rank in life; attainment; station.
3. Relative extent, amount, or intensity.
4. Gram. One of the three forms in which an adjective or adverb is compared: the positive, comparative, and superlative degrees.
5. An academic rank or title conferred by an institution of learning.
6. One remove in the chain of relationship between persons in the line of descent.
7. A subdivision or unit, as in a thermometric scale.
8. The 360th part of a circle, as of longitude or latitude; the 90th part of a right angle; the unit divisions marked accordingly on various instruments.
9. Math. The power to which an algebraic quantity, equation, or number is raised.
10. In notation, a group of three figures in a number; a period.
11. Music A line or space of a staff.
12. A grade of seriousness: said of crimes: murder in the first degree.
—by degrees Little by little; gradually.
—to a degree
1. Brit. Extremely.
2. Somewhat. [<OF degre <de- down (<L de-) + gre <L gradus a step]