de·gree / diˈgrē/ • n. 1. [in sing.] the amount, level, or extent to which something happens or is present: a degree of caution.2. a unit of measurement of angles, one three-hundred-and-sixtieth of the circumference of a circle. (Symbol: °) 3. a stage in a scale or series, in particular: ∎  a unit in any of various scales of temperature, intensity, or hardness: water boils at 100 degrees Celsius. (Symbol: °) ∎  [in comb.] each of a set of grades (usually three) used to classify burns according to their severity. See first-degree, second-degree, third-degree. ∎  [in comb.] a legal grade of crime or offense, esp. murder: second-degree murder. ∎  Mus. a position in a musical scale, counting upward from the tonic or fundamental note: the lowered third degree of the scale. ∎  Math. the class into which an equation falls according to the highest power of unknowns or variables present: an equation of the second degree. ∎  Gram. any of the three steps on the scale of comparison of gradable adjectives and adverbs, namely positive, comparative, and superlative. ∎ archaic a thing placed like a step in a series; a tier or row.4. an academic rank conferred by a college or university after examination or after completion of a course of study, or conferred as an honor on a distinguished person. ∎ archaic social or official rank: persons of unequal degree. ∎  a rank in an order of Freemasonry.PHRASES: by degrees a little at a time; gradually.to a degree to some extent: to a degree, it is possible to educate oneself.