degenerate
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About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.1de·gen·er·ate
adjective \di-ˈjen-rət, -ˈje-nə-, dē-\Definition of DEGENERATE
1
a : having declined or become less specialized (as in nature, character, structure, or function) from an ancestral or former state b : having sunk to a condition below that which is normal to a type; especially : having sunk to a lower and usually corrupt and vicious state c : degraded 2
2
: being mathematically simpler (as by having a factor or constant equal to zero) than the typical case <a degenerate hyperbola>
3
: characterized by atoms stripped of their electrons and by very great density <degenerate matter>; also : consisting of degenerate matter <a degenerate star>
4
: having two or more states or subdivisions <degenerate energy level>
5
: having more than one codon representing an amino acid; also : being such a codon
— de·gen·er·ate·ly adverb
— de·gen·er·ate·ness noun
See Examples of DEGENERATE
- He criticizes what he believes is a degenerate society.
- <a degenerate society in which people had no sense of being citizens, only consumers>
Origin of DEGENERATE
Middle English degenerat, from Latin degeneratus, past participle of degenerare to degenerate, from de- + gener-, genus race, kind — more at kin
First Known Use: 15th century
2de·gen·er·ate
verb \di-ˈje-nə-ˌrāt, dē-\Definition of DEGENERATE
intransitive verb
1
: to pass from a higher to a lower type or condition : deteriorate
2
: to sink into a low intellectual or moral state
3
: to decline in quality <the poetry gradually degenerates into jingles>
4
: to decline from a condition or from the standards of a species, race, or breed
5
: to evolve or develop into a less autonomous or less functionally active form <degenerated into dependent parasites>
transitive verb
: to cause to degenerate
Examples of DEGENERATE
- <over the years the community-minded organization degenerated into a club for loafers>
First Known Use of DEGENERATE
1545
Related to DEGENERATE
Rhymes with DEGENERATE
abbreviate, abominate, accelerate, accentuate, accommodate, acculturate, accumulate, adjudicate, adulterate, affiliate, agglomerate, alienate, alleviate, alliterate, amalgamate, ameliorate, amyl nitrate, annihilate, annunciate, anticipate, apostolate, appreciate, appropriate, approximate, arpeggiate, articulate, asphyxiate, assassinate, asseverate, assimilate, associate, at any rate, attenuate, authenticate, barbiturate, bicarbonate, calumniate, capacitate, capitulate, catholicate, certificate, coagulate, coelenterate, collaborate, commemorate, commiserate, communicate, compassionate, concatenate, conciliate, confabulate, confederate, conglomerate, congratulate, consolidate, contaminate, cooperate, coordinate, corroborate, deactivate, debilitate, decapitate, decelerate, decerebrate, deconcentrate, deconsecrate, decorticate, decrepitate, de-escalate, defibrinate, defoliate, deliberate, delineate, demodulate, denominate, depopulate, depreciate, deracinate, deregulate, desegregate, desiderate, detoxicate, devaluate, diaconate, dilapidate, discriminate, disintegrate, disseminate, dissimulate, dissociate, domesticate, effectuate, ejaculate, elaborate, electroplate, eliminate, elucidate, emaciate, emancipate, emasculate, encapsulate, enumerate, enunciate, episcopate, equivocate, eradicate, etiolate, evacuate, evaluate, evaporate, eventuate, eviscerate, exacerbate, exaggerate, exasperate, excited state, excogitate, excoriate, exfoliate, exhilarate, exonerate, expatiate, expatriate, expectorate, expostulate, expropriate, extenuate, exterminate, extrapolate, facilitate, felicitate, fish or cut bait, garrison state, gesticulate, habilitate, habituate, hallucinate, humiliate, hydrogenate, hypothecate, illuminate, impersonate, inactivate, inaugurate, incarcerate, incinerate, incorporate, incriminate, indoctrinate, inebriate, infatuate, infuriate, ingratiate, ingurgitate, initiate, inoculate, inseminate, insinuate, instantiate, intercalate, interpolate, interrelate, interrogate, intimidate, intoxicate, invalidate, investigate, invigorate, irradiate, Italianate, Korea Strait, lanceolate, legitimate, luxuriate, mandarinate, manipulate, matriarchate, matriculate, Merthiolate, necessitate, negotiate, noncandidate, obliterate, officiate, Orange Free State, orientate, originate, oxygenate, participate, particulate, patriarchate, patriciate, perambulate, peregrinate, perpetuate, pontificate, precipitate, predestinate, predominate, prefabricate, premeditate, preponderate, prevaricate, procrastinate, prognosticate, proliferate, propitiate, proportionate, quadruplicate, quintuplicate, reciprocate, recriminate, recuperate, redecorate, reduplicate, reeducate, refrigerate, regenerate, regurgitate, reincarnate, reintegrate, reiterate, rejuvenate, remunerate, repatriate, repudiate, resuscitate, retaliate, reticulate, revaluate, reverberate, scholasticate, second estate, self-flagellate, self-immolate, self-pollinate, seventy-eight, sextuplicate, Singapore Strait, sophisticate, subordinate, substantiate, syllabicate, tergiversate, transliterate, triangulate, vanity plate, variegate, vaticinate, vituperate, vociferate
3de·gen·er·ate
noun \di-ˈjen-rət, -ˈje-nə-, dē-\Definition of DEGENERATE
: one that is degenerate: as a : one degraded from the normal moral standard b : a sexual pervert c : one showing signs of reversion to an earlier culture stage
Examples of DEGENERATE
- a couple of degenerates on a crime spree
- <a degenerate who is uninterested in anything but his own gratification>
First Known Use of DEGENERATE
1555
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