degree
HighNeutral to formal (depending on context)
Definition
Meaning
A unit of measurement for angles, temperature, or the level/intensity of something; also an academic qualification awarded by a university.
Can refer to a step or stage in a process, a legal classification of a crime, a level of relationship by blood or marriage, or a unit in various measurement systems.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Highly polysemous; meaning is heavily context-dependent. In academic contexts, it nearly always means a university qualification. In measurement contexts, requires a specifying word (e.g., 'degrees Celsius', '45-degree angle').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In academia, 'first-class degree' (UK) vs. 'summa cum laude' (US) for top honours. The phrase 'by degrees' (gradually) is more common in UK English.
Connotations
In both, an academic 'degree' carries strong positive connotations of achievement. In legal contexts ('murder in the first degree'), US usage is more prevalent.
Frequency
Comparably high frequency in both varieties. The academic sense is extremely frequent in both.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[verb] + degree (earn, get, hold, have, award)[adjective] + degree (academic, university, higher, postgraduate)degree + [preposition] + (in Physics, from Oxford, of separation)to a [adjective] degree (large, certain, surprising)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to a degree (to some extent)”
- “by degrees (gradually)”
- “third degree (intensive questioning)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to the level of risk, customer satisfaction, or market penetration ('a high degree of confidence').
Academic
Primarily the university qualification ('She is pursuing a degree in Law').
Everyday
Most commonly temperature ('It's 20 degrees outside') or casual measurement of intensity ('I agree with you to a degree').
Technical
Unit of angular measurement in geometry/engineering, or a unit in graph theory (number of connections at a node).
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.
- He has a university degree.
- To what degree do you agree with the statement?
- She earned her degree from Edinburgh University.
- The success of the project depends, to a large degree, on adequate funding.
- He was subjected to the third degree by the detectives.
- The two problems are linked, albeit to a varying degree.
- Kinship is calculated in degrees of separation.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a THERMOMETER: the lines marking the temperature are its 'degrees' of heat. A UNIVERSITY GRADUATE climbs the 'degrees' of education.
Conceptual Metaphor
QUANTITY/INTENSITY IS VERTICAL ELEVATION (a high degree of skill), EDUCATION IS A LADDER/JOURNEY (climbing the degrees).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating as 'градус' for academic qualification (use 'диплом', 'учёная степень').
- Do not use 'степень' for 'degree of angle'—use 'градус'.
- The phrase 'to a degree' does not mean 'до степени' but 'до некоторой степени'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'degree' without a specifying word for temperature/angles (e.g., 'It's 20 outside' – missing 'degrees').
- Confusing 'degree' (qualification) with 'diploma' (often a lower-level qualification).
- Using plural for academic qualification in singular context ('I have a degrees').
Practice
Quiz
In the phrase 'murder in the first degree', what does 'degree' mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is the standard unit for both (degrees Celsius/Fahrenheit for temperature, degrees of arc for angles).
A degree is typically a higher education qualification from a university (BA, BSc, etc.). A diploma is often a shorter, vocational qualification, though some postgraduate degrees are called 'diplomas'.
Yes, in phrases like 'to a degree' or 'to some degree', it means 'partly' or 'to some extent'.
It is an idiomatic phrase meaning 'gradually' or 'little by little' (e.g., 'The situation improved by degrees').
Collections
Part of a collection
Education
A2 · 50 words · School, studying and learning vocabulary.
Weather
A2 · 45 words · Describing the weather, climate and seasons.