What is degree? Pronunciation and usage in English

degree means . Learn how to pronounce and use degree through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of degree

degreenoun

/dɪˈɡriː/
Definition & pronunciation of degree

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "degree" in English. It's a tricky one because it's often mispronounced!

Here's the breakdown:

Correct Pronunciation: /ˈdɪɡriː/ (dee-GREES)

Let's break it down syllable by syllable:

  • "Di-": This sounds like the "dee" in "die" or "definite". It’s a short, clear "d" sound.
  • "-gree": This is the tricky part! This sounds like "GREES". It's not like "gray." Think of it like saying "tree" but with an "g" instead of an "r" in the middle. It's a two-syllable sound.

Tips to help you:

Common Mispronunciations:

  • "degree" as "digree" (with an extra "r") – This is extremely common!
  • "dee-gree" (two short syllables) - The "GREES" is a single syllable.

To help me tailor my response could you tell me:

  • Are you struggling with a particular sound in the word?

Usage and examples with the word degree in English

Let's break down how to use the word "degree" in English. It's a surprisingly versatile word with many different meanings! Here's a breakdown of the most common uses, with examples:

1. Formal Measurement (Degrees – like temperature or angles)

  • Temperature: "The degree Celsius of the water is 25." (Referring to the scale used to measure temperature)
  • Angles: "The angle of the roof is 45 degrees." (Measuring the angle between lines)
  • Rotation: “The engine was turned 90 degrees.” (Measuring how much something has rotated)

2. Academic Qualification (Levels of Study)

This is probably the most common meaning you'll encounter.

  • Bachelor's Degree: "She earned a degree in Biology from Harvard University." (First university qualification)
  • Master's Degree: “He’s pursuing a Master’s degree in Engineering.” (Advanced university qualification)
  • Doctoral Degree / Ph.D.: "He received his Ph.D. in Physics from Oxford.” (Highest academic degree)
  • Associate’s Degree: “He got an Associate’s degree in Business Administration.” (Two-year college degree)

3. Level of Importance/Severity (Figurative Use)

  • Degree of difficulty: “The degree of difficulty in that problem is quite high.” (How hard something is)
  • Degree of success: “The company achieved a significant degree of success with the new product.” (How much of a positive result was achieved)
  • Degree of harm: “The degree of harm caused by the accident was thankfully minimal." (How serious the damage was)
  • Degree of attention: “He paid a high degree of attention to the instructions.” (How much focus was given)

4. Emphasis/Intensity (Adjective - “to a high degree”)

  • "She expresses her opinions to a high degree of passion." (Meaning strongly)
  • “He is completely devoted to his family to a certain degree.” (Meaning a significant amount)

5. As a Noun (Referring to a specific instance or case)

  • "This is a matter of degree." (Meaning it’s not absolute, but there’s a difference) – "Is he entirely wrong, or just somewhat wrong?" (The difference is a matter of degree)

Here's a quick summary table:

Meaning Example Part of Speech
Temperature 25 degrees Celsius Noun
Academic Qualification A degree in History Noun
Difficulty The degree of difficulty Noun
Intensity To a high degree Adverb (with “to”)
Specific Instance A matter of degree Noun

Resources for Further Learning:

To help me give you even more tailored advice, could you tell me:

  • What kind of context are you interested in using "degree" in? (e.g., academic writing, everyday conversation, a specific topic?)

Synonyms for the word degree

Idioms of the word degree

by degrees
slowly and gradually
  • By degrees their friendship grew into love.
  • By slow degrees, the company's turnover dwindled to nothing.
to the nth degree
extremely; to an extreme degree
  • The children tested her patience to the nth degree.

Practice with vocabulary degree

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. To what ______ will the new policy affect employee morale?
  2. She completed her Master's ______ in International Relations last year.
  3. The company needs to enhance the ______ of precision in its manufacturing process.
  4. After extensive training, he earned a professional ______ in cybersecurity.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. Which of the following can represent a unit of temperature? a) point b) degree c) level d) measure

  2. To what ______ are you willing to compromise on your initial demands? a) dimension b) extent c) degree d) limit

  3. Receiving a ______ from a reputable university can significantly boost your career prospects. a) certificate b) license c) degree d) diploma

  4. The new software offers a higher ______ of customization than its predecessor. a) standard b) amount c) level d) magnitude

  5. The architect discussed the ______ of the building's main hall, emphasizing its spaciousness. a) volume b) capacity c) scope d) proportion

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. The intensity of his commitment to the project was remarkable. Rewrite using "degree":

  2. She graduated with a postgraduate qualification in astrophysics. Rewrite using "degree":

  3. The project's complexity made it challenging to complete on time. Rewrite WITHOUT "degree":

Answer Key

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. degree
  2. degree
  3. level (or standard)
  4. certification (or qualification)

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. b) degree
  2. b) extent, c) degree, d) limit
  3. a) certificate, c) degree, d) diploma
  4. a) standard, c) level
  5. a) volume, b) capacity, d) proportion

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. The degree of his commitment to the project was remarkable.
  2. She graduated with a postgraduate degree in astrophysics.
  3. The sheer intricacy of the project made it challenging to complete on time.

Comment ()