| degrade | 1. To reduce from a higher to a lower rank or degree; to lower in rank' to deprive of office or dignity; to strip of honors; as, to degrade a nobleman, or a general officer. "Prynne was sentenced by the Star Chamber Court to be degraded from the bar." (Palfrey) 2. To reduce in estimation, character, or reputation; to lessen the value of; to lower the physical, moral, or intellectual character of; to debase; to bring shame or contempt upon; to disgrace; as, vice degrades a man. "O miserable mankind, to what fall Degraded, to what wretched state reserved!" (Milton) "He pride . . . Struggled hard against this degrading passion." (Macaulay) 3. <geology> To reduce in altitude or magnitude, as hills and mountains; to wear down. Synonym: To abase, demean, lower, reduce. See Abase. Origin: F. Degrader, LL. Degradare, fr. L. De- + gradus step, degree. See Grade, and cf. Degree. <biology> To degenerate; to pass from a higher to a lower type of structure; as, a family of plants or animals degrades through this or that genus or group of genera. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| degraded | 1. Reduced in rank, character, or reputation; debased; sunken; low; base. "The Netherlands . . . Were reduced practically to a very degraded condition." (Motley) 2. <biology> Having the typical characters or organs in a partially developed condition, or lacking certain parts. "Some families of plants are degraded dicotyledons." (Dana) 3. [Cf. F. Degre step. Having steps; said of a cross each of whose extremities finishes in steps growing larger as they leave the center; termed also on degrees. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| degraded wetland | <ecology> A wetland which has been altered by man through impairment of some physical property and in which the alteration has resulted in a reduction of biological complexity in terms of species diversity of wetland-associated species which previously existed in the wetland areas. (09 Oct 1997) |