DEGRADATION

degradation, debasement

(noun) changing to a lower state (a less respected state)

abasement, degradation, abjection

(noun) a low or downcast state; “each confession brought her into an attitude of abasement”- H.L.Menchken

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Noun

degradation (countable and uncountable, plural degradations)

The act of reducing in rank, character, or reputation, or of abasing; a lowering from one's standing or rank in office or society

The state of being reduced in rank, character, or reputation; baseness; moral, physical, or intellectual degeneracy; disgrace; abasement; debasement.

Diminution or reduction of strength, efficacy, or value; degeneration; deterioration.

(geology) A gradual wearing down or wasting, as of rocks and banks, by the action of water, frost etc.

A deleterious change in the chemical structure, physical properties or appearance of a material from natural or artificial exposure.

The state or condition of a species or group which exhibits degraded forms; degeneration.

Arrest of development, or degeneration of any organ, or of the body as a whole.

The gradual breakdown of components of a material, as a result of a natural element, i.e.: heat, cold and wind.

Hyponyms

• biodegradation

• graceful degradation

• Marker degradation

Anagrams

• gradationed

Source: Wiktionary


Deg`ra*da"tion, n. Etym: [LL. degradatio, from degradare: cf. F. dégradation. See Degrade.]

1. The act of reducing in rank, character, or reputation, or of abasing; a lowering from one's standing or rank in office or society; diminution; as, the degradation of a peer, a knight, a general, or a bishop. He saw many removes and degradations in all the other offices of which he had been possessed. Clarendon.

2. The state of being reduced in rank, character, or reputation; baseness; moral, physical, or intellectual degeneracy; disgrace; abasement; debasement. The . . . degradation of a needy man of letters. Macaulay. Deplorable is the degradation of our nature. South. Moments there frequently must be, when a sidegradation of his state. Blair.

3. Diminution or reduction of strength, efficacy, or value; degeneration; deterioration. The development and degradation of the alphabetic forms can be traced. I. Taylor (The Alphabet).

4. (Geol.)

Definition: A gradual wearing down or wasting, as of rocks and banks, by the action of water, fro

5. (Biol.)

Definition: The state or condition of a species or group which exhibits degraded forms; degeneration. The degradation of the species man is observed in some of its varieties. Dana.

6. (Physiol.)

Definition: Arrest of development, or degeneration of any organ, or of the body as a whole. Degradation of energy, or Dissipation of energy (Physics), the transformation of energy into some form in which it is less available for doing work.

Syn.

– Abasement; debasement; reduction; decline.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

22 May 2025

BOLLARD

(noun) a strong post (as on a wharf or quay or ship for attaching mooring lines); “the road was closed to vehicular traffic with bollards”


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Coffee Trivia

International Coffee Day (September 29) is an occasion to promote and celebrate coffee as a beverage, with events occurring in places across the world. A day to promote fair trade coffee and raise awareness for the coffee growers’ plight. Other countries celebrate this event on October 1.

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