Main Entry: de·grade

Pronunciation: \di-ˈgrād, dē-\

Function: verb

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French degrader, from Late Latin degradare, from Latin de- + gradus step, grade — more at grade

Date: 14th century

transitive verb 1 a : to lower in grade, rank, or status : demote b : to strip of rank or honors c : to lower to an inferior or less effective level <degrade the image quality> d : to scale down in desirability or salability
2 a : to bring to low esteem or into disrepute <his actions have degraded his profession> b : to drag down in moral or intellectual character : corrupt
3 : to impair in respect to some physical property <material degraded by exposure to sunlight>
4 : to wear down by erosion
5 : to reduce the complexity of (a chemical compound) : decomposeintransitive verb 1 : to pass from a higher grade or class to a lower
2 of a chemical compound : to become reduced in complexity

— de·grad·er noun

— de·grad·ing·ly \-ˈgrā-diŋ-lē\ adverb