A Quick and Simple Dictionary

degree

1. Noun.  (obsolete, _) A step on a set of stairs; the rung of a ladder. (defdate, from 13th c.) .
2. Noun.  An individual step, or stage, in any process or scale of values. (defdate, from 13th c.) .
3. Noun.  A stage of rank or privilege; social standing. (defdate, from 13th c.) .
4. Noun.  (genealogy) A ‘step’ in genealogical descent. (defdate, from 14th c.) .
5. Noun.  (context, now) One's relative state or experience; way, manner. (defdate, from 14th c.) .
6. Noun.  The amount that an entity possesses a certain property; relative intensity, extent. (defdate, from 14th c.) .
7. Noun.  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.) (defdate, from 14th c.) .
8. Noun.  (geometry) A unit of measurement of angle equal to 1/360 of a circle's circumference. (defdate, from 14th c.) .
9. Noun.  (physics) A unit of measurement of temperature on any of several scales, such as Celsius or Fahrenheit. (defdate, from 18th c.) .
10. Noun.  (mathematics) The sum of the exponents of a term; the order of a polynomial. (defdate, from 18th c.) .
11. Noun.  (graph theory) The number of edges that a vertex takes part in; a valency.
12. Noun.  (surveying) The curvature of a circular arc, expressed as the angle subtended by a fixed length of arc or chord.