(n.) A step, stair, or staircase.
(n.) One of a series of progressive steps upward or downward, in
quality, rank, acquirement, and the like; a stage in progression;
grade; gradation; as, degrees of vice and virtue; to advance by slow
degrees; degree of comparison.
(n.) The point or step of progression to which a person has
arrived; rank or station in life; position.
(n.) Measure of advancement; quality; extent; as, tastes differ
in kind as well as in degree.
(n.) Grade or rank to which scholars are admitted by a college
or university, in recognition of their attainments; as, the degree of
bachelor of arts, master, doctor, etc.
(n.) A certain distance or remove in the line of descent,
determining the proximity of blood; one remove in the chain of
relationship; as, a relation in the third or fourth degree.
(n.) Three figures taken together in numeration; thus, 140 is
one degree, 222,140 two degrees.
(n.) State as indicated by sum of exponents; more particularly,
the degree of a term is indicated by the sum of the exponents of its
literal factors; thus, a2b3c is a term of the sixth degree. The degree
of a power, or radical, is denoted by its index, that of an equation by
the greatest sum of the exponents of the unknown quantities in any
term; thus, ax4 + bx2 = c, and mx2y2 + nyx = p, are both equations of
the fourth degree.
(n.) A 360th part of the circumference of a circle, which part
is taken as the principal unit of measure for arcs and angles. The
degree is divided into 60 minutes and the minute into 60 seconds.
(n.) A division, space, or interval, marked on a mathematical or
other instrument, as on a thermometer.
(n.) A line or space of the staff.
