degree
degree — noun
1. how much or how strongly a quality, feeling, or condition is present in a partic
how much or how strongly a quality, feeling, or condition is present in a particular person, thing, or situation
The success of the project depends on the degree of support from local residents.
degree of + [abstract noun]
Christopher felt a high degree of satisfaction after finishing the marathon.
There is only a small degree of difference between the two computer models.
Patients with varying degrees of hearing loss were included in the study.
Her degree of confidence grew as she practised the speech each evening.
文法句型
degree + of + noun
用法筆記
Often followed by 'of' and an abstract noun (support, confidence, success, risk). The intensity can be modified with 'high', 'low', 'small', 'great', 'varying'.
常見錯誤
2. a way of describing situations where the difference between two things is about
a way of describing situations where the difference between two things is about how much or how strongly, rather than about a completely different kind or category
The difference between good and excellent is mostly a matter of degree.
fixed phrase: 'a matter of degree'
Lakan and Quinn both support the plan, but to different degrees they show their enthusiasm.
Whether you call it nervousness or fear, it is really just a matter of degree.
The two paintings look similar, but their quality differs in degree, not in kind.
When judging art, the line between skill and genius is a matter of degree.
文法句型
a matter of degree
differ in degree
to different degrees
用法筆記
Most commonly appears in the set phrase 'a matter of degree'. The contrastive expression 'differ in degree, not in kind' distinguishes quantitative from qualitative difference.
常見錯誤
3. a standard unit used for measuring temperature on a fixed scale, or for measurin
a standard unit used for measuring temperature on a fixed scale, or for measuring the size of an angle, written with the symbol ° after the number
The temperature in Taipei reached 38 degrees yesterday afternoon.
temperature with city and number
In geometry class, the teacher explained that a right angle measures 90 degrees.
Shirin set the oven to 180 degrees and waited for it to heat up.
The compass showed we needed to turn 45 degrees to the left.
Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius at sea level.
文法句型
number + degrees + [scale]
number + degrees + [direction]
用法筆記
Always used with a number and the ° symbol in writing. In speech, 'degrees' is included. Common scales are Celsius (also called centigrade) and Fahrenheit. For angles, a full circle is 360 degrees.
4. a formal award that a university gives to students once they have met all the re
a formal award that a university gives to students once they have met all the requirements of a learning programme in a chosen field
Elena earned a degree in biology from the University of Tokyo.
degree in + [subject]
After finishing her degree, Talia found a job at a technology company in Seoul.
Mayumi is studying for a master's degree in education while working full-time.
A degree in nursing usually takes three or four years to complete.
Many employers want to see a university degree on your job application.
- diploma
usually shorter and more vocational than a university degree
- qualification
a broader term that includes degrees, certificates, and diplomas
文法句型
[type] + degree + in + [subject]
earn/get/have + a degree
用法筆記
The subject is introduced by 'in' (a degree in physics). The level is shown before 'degree': 'bachelor's degree' (undergraduate), 'master's degree' (graduate), 'doctoral degree' (PhD). In British English, 'degree' often implies a bachelor's unless specified otherwise.
常見錯誤
5. how serious or harmful something is, considered as a general level on a scale of
how serious or harmful something is, considered as a general level on a scale of severity — used especially in legal and medical contexts to rank harm, risk, or damage
All injuries were classified by degree of severity in the hospital report.
degree of severity — general classification
The judge asked about the degree of harm caused by the accident.
degree of + harm/damage
Doctors measured the degree of damage to the patient's lungs after the fire.
The degree of risk in an investment usually matches the possible return.
Nala asked the engineer to explain the degree of danger at the construction site.
文法句型
degree of + [harm/danger/damage]
[high/low] degree of + noun
用法筆記
This sense describes the abstract level on a severity scale. It is used with 'of' and an abstract noun (harm, danger, risk, damage). Do not confuse with sense 6, which uses ordinal numbers (first-, second-, third-) as compound-adjective prefixes for specific named categories.
常見錯誤
6. used with ordinal numbers such as first, second, and third to create compound ad
used with ordinal numbers such as first, second, and third to create compound adjectives that label a specific level of seriousness in crimes, burns, and other harmful conditions — the combination of the ordinal number and 'degree' forms a fixed term that names a legal or medical category
The doctor said the burn was a third-degree injury and needed immediate treatment.
third-degree burn — medical severity rank
In many countries, first-degree murder carries the longest prison sentence.
Burns are divided into three degrees depending on how deep the skin damage is.
The court found her guilty of third-degree assault after the trial.
A second-degree burn damages both the outer and the next layer of skin.
In some states, second-degree murder means the killing was not planned ahead of time.
First-degree burns usually heal within a week without leaving scars.
文法句型
[ordinal number]-degree + [crime/burn/injury noun]
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 5: this sense uses ordinal numbers (first-, second-, third-) as compound-adjective prefixes that name a fixed category on an official scale. Sense 5 describes the abstract concept of severity level without ordinals. Note that the direction of the scale can reverse: first-degree burn is the least severe burn, but first-degree murder is the most serious crime.
常見錯誤
7. combined with a number to form compounds that describe a specific measurement on
combined with a number to form compounds that describe a specific measurement on a scale, most often for temperature or the size of an angle
The car made a 180-degree turn and drove back the other way.
180-degree turn — direction change
Emily checked the thermometer and saw it was a 30-degree morning.
The map shows a 90-degree bend in the river near the old village.
A 45-degree angle is exactly half of a right angle.
The weather report said it would be a 25-degree day with clear skies.
文法句型
[number]-degree + [noun: turn, angle, day, morning]
用法筆記
In this compound-adjective use, the number and 'degree' are joined by a hyphen and placed before a noun (a 90-degree angle). Do not confuse with the noun sense (sense 3), where 'degree' stands alone after the number and a preposition (an angle of 90 degrees).