degree

Etymology

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

noun

1. A stage of proficiency or qualification in a course of study, now especially an award bestowed by a university or, in some countries, a college, as a certification of academic achievement. (In the United States, can include secondary schools.)
   She has two bachelor's degrees and is studying towards a master's degree.
2. (geometry) A unit of measurement of angle equal to ¹⁄₃₆₀ of a circle's circumference.
   A right angle is a ninety-degree angle.
   Most humans have a field of vision of almost 180 degrees.
3. (physics) A unit of measurement of temperature on any of several scales, such as Celsius or Fahrenheit.
   212 degrees Fahrenheit is equivalent to 100 degrees Celsius.
   Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.
4. (algebra) The sum of the exponents of a term; the order of a polynomial.
   A quadratic polynomial is a polynomial of degree 2.
5. (algebra, field theory) The dimensionality of a field extension.
   The set of complex numbers constitutes a field extension of degree 2 over the real numbers.
   The Galois field operatorname GF(125)= operatorname GF(5³) has degree 3 over its subfield operatorname GF(5).
6. (graph theory) The number of edges that a vertex takes part in; a valency.
7. (logic) The number of logical connectives in a formula.
8. (surveying) The curvature of a circular arc, expressed as the angle subtended by a fixed length of arc or chord.
9. (geography) A unit of measurement of latitude and longitude which together identify a location on the Earth's surface.
10. (grammar) Any of the stages (like positive, comparative, superlative, elative) in the comparison of an adjective or an adverb.
11. (obsolete outside heraldry) A step on a set of stairs; the rung of a ladder.
12. An individual step, or stage, in any process or scale of values.
13. A stage of rank or privilege; social standing.
14. (genealogy) A ‘step’ in genealogical descent.
    Louis created the École militaire in Paris in 1751, in which 500 scholarships were designated for noblemen able to prove four degrees of noble status. 2002, Colin Jones, The Great Nation, Penguin, published 2003, page 140
15. (now rare) One's relative state or experience; way, manner.
    If they but knew it, almost all men in their degree, some time or other, cherish very nearly the same feelings towards the ocean with me. 1851, Herman Melville, Moby-Dick
16. The amount that an entity possesses a certain property; relative intensity, extent.
    To what degree do the two accounts of the accident concur?
    Then there are the sums that Abramovich would be permitted to invest within the parameters of the profit and sustainability rules – £105m over a rolling three-year period. That, plainly, has stopped and so, to repeat, it is imperative that the transfer of ownership happens with a degree of speed. March 11 2022, David Hytner, “Chelsea are in crisis but there is no will to leave club on their knees”, in The Guardian