ALL meanings of by degrees
by de·gree
B b - phrase by degrees If something happens by degrees, it happens slowly and gradually. 3
- noun by degrees little by little; gradually 3
- noun by degrees step by step; gradually 3
- noun by degrees any of a series of steps or stages, as in a process or course of action; a point in any scale. 1
- noun by degrees a stage or point in or as if in progression or retrogression: We followed the degrees of her recovery with joy. 1
- noun by degrees a stage in a scale of intensity or amount: a high degree of mastery. 1
- noun by degrees extent, measure, scope, or the like: To what degree will he cooperate? 1
- noun by degrees a stage in a scale of rank or station; relative standing in society, business, etc.: His uncouth behavior showed him to be a man of low degree. 1
- noun by degrees Education. an academic title conferred by universities and colleges as an indication of the completion of a course of study, or as an honorary recognition of achievement. 1
- noun by degrees a unit of measure, as of temperature or pressure, marked off on the scale of a measuring instrument: This thermometer shows a scale of degrees between only 20° and 40° C. 1
- noun by degrees Geometry. the 360th part of a complete angle or turn, often represented by the sign°, as in 45°, which is read as 45 degrees. Compare angle1 (def 1c). 1
- noun by degrees the distinctive classification of a crime according to its gravity: murder in the first degree. 1
- noun by degrees Grammar. one of the parallel formations of adjectives and adverbs used to express differences in quality, quantity, or intensity. In English, low and careful are the positive degree, lower and more careful are the comparative degree, lowest and most careful are the superlative degree. 1
- noun by degrees Mathematics. the sum of the exponents of the variables in an algebraic term: x 3 and 2x 2 y are terms of degree three. the term of highest degree of a given equation or polynomial: The expression 3x 2 y + y 2 + 1 is of degree three. the exponent of the derivative of highest order appearing in a given differential equation. 1
- noun by degrees Music. a tone or step of the scale. 1
- noun by degrees Astrology. any of the 360 equal divisions of the ecliptic measured counterclockwise from the vernal equinox. Each of the 12 signs of the zodiac contains 30 degrees. 1
- noun by degrees a certain distance or remove in the line of descent, determining the proximity of relationship: a cousin of the second degree. 1
- noun by degrees Archaic. a line or point on the earth or the celestial sphere, as defined by degrees of latitude. 1
- noun by degrees Obsolete. a step, as of a stair. 1
- idioms by degrees by degrees, by easy stages; gradually: She grew angrier by degrees. 1
- idioms by degrees to a degree, to a considerable extent; exceedingly. to a small extent; somewhat: He is to a degree difficult to get along with. 1
- preposition by degrees In gradual steps. 0