grade

¹grade

noun \ˈgrād\

Definition of GRADE

1

a (1) : a position in a scale of ranks or qualities (2) : a stage in a process b : a degree of severity in illness <grade III carcinoma> c : a class organized for the work of a particular year of a school course d : a military or naval rank

2

a : a class of things of the same stage or degree b : a mark indicating a degree of accomplishment in school c : a standard of food quality

3

a : the degree of inclination of a road or slope; also : a sloping road b : a datum or reference level; especially : ground level

4

: a domestic animal with one parent purebred and the other of inferior breeding

5

plural : the elementary school system

— grade·less \-ləs\ adjective

Examples of GRADE

1. The fifth grade will perform their annual play this week.
2. a grade of 90 percent or better
3. Her grades are up this semester.
4. an expensive grade of leather

Origin of GRADE

Latin gradus step, degree, from Latin gradi to step, go; akin to Lithuanian gridyti to go, wander

First Known Use: 1526

Related to GRADE

Synonyms: chapter, cut, degree, inch, notch, peg, phase, place, point, stage, step

Related Words: angle, aspect, facet, side; amount, measure, plane; decrement, increment

Near Antonyms: aberration, abnormality, deviation

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Other Education Terms

baccalaureate, colloquium, corequisite, dissertation, monograph, pedant, practicum, survey course, thesis

Rhymes with GRADE

Ade, aid, aide, blade, braid, cade, clade, fade, glade, jade, lade, made, maid, paid, raid, rayed, shade, spade, stade, staid, suede, trade, wade