Definition of degenerate
(Entry 1 of 3)
1a
: having declined or become less specialized (as in nature, character, structure, or function) from an ancestral or former state
the last degenerate member of a noble family— W. E. Swinton
b
: having sunk to a condition below that which is normal to a type
… fruit so degenerate that the insects weren't even interested …— Tamar Perla
especially
: having sunk to a lower and usually corrupt and vicious state
a degenerate schemer a despairing and degenerate world had sunk into servitude beneath him — W. L. Sullivan
c
: degraded sense 2
the functionally degenerate wings of the species
2
mathematics
: being simpler (as by having a factor or constant equal to zero) than the typical case
a degenerate hyperbola
3
physics and astronomy
: characterized by atoms stripped of their electrons and by very great density
degenerate matter
also
: consisting of degenerate matter
a degenerate star
4
physics and chemistry
: having two or more states or subdivisions especially of the same energy or frequency
degenerate energy level degenerate oscillation
degenerate
verb
degenerated; degenerating; degenerates
Definition of degenerate (Entry 2 of 3)
1
: to pass from a higher to a lower type or condition : deteriorate
her fixed mysterious smile degenerated into a fatuous stare— J. C. Powys
2
: to sink into a low intellectual or moral state
The debate degenerated into a shouting match. At the same time, discotheques degenerated into seedier venues … —shifty, often Mob-run last-martini stops for business commuters …— Peter Braunstein
3
: to decline in quality
the poetry gradually degenerates into jingles … the sitcom has degenerated into a sparring ring of personal insult— James Wolcott
4
biology
: to decline from a condition or from the standards of a species, race, or breed
5
biology
: to evolve or develop into a less autonomous (see autonomous sense 2a) or less functionally active form
degenerated into dependent parasites
: to cause to degenerate
degenerate
nounDefinition of degenerate (Entry 3 of 3)
: one that is degenerate (see degenerate entry 1) : such as
a
: one degraded from the normal moral standard
social degenerates
b
: a sexual pervert
c
anthropology
: one showing signs of reversion (see reversion sense 3a) to an earlier culture stage
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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Time Traveler for degenerate
The first known use of degenerate was in the 15th century
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