degree

degree
de‧gree S2 W1 /dɪˈɡriː/ noun1. [countable] (written abbreviation deg.) a unit for measuring temperature. It can be shown as a symbol after a number. For example, 70º means 70 degrees:
    Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
    20 degrees Celsius/70 degrees Fahrenheit/1 degree Centigrade etc
    The temperature dropped to five degrees Centigrade.
2. [countable] (written abbreviation deg.) a unit for measuring the size of an angle. It can be shown as a symbol after a number. For example, 18º means 18 degrees:
    Then the cylinder is rotated 180 degrees.
3. [uncountable and countable] the level or amount of something
    degree of
    1960s Britain was characterised by a greater degree of freedom than before.
    Newspapers vary in the degree to which they emphasize propaganda rather than information.
4. to a degree (also to some degree/to a certain degree) partly:
    To a degree, it is possible to educate oneself.
    We’re all willing to support him to some degree.
5. [countable] a course of study at a university or college, or the qualification that is given to you when you have successfully completed the course
    degree in
    a degree in Economics
    Applicants must have a degree in Engineering.
    an Honours degree
6. by degrees very slowly
   SYN  gradually:
    By degrees, he forced himself into a sitting position.
     

COLLOCATIONS

(for Meaning 5)

■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + degree
   ▪ a good degree (=that you pass at a good level) Mature students are more likely to get a good degree.
   ▪ a university/college degree For many jobs you need to have a university degree.
   ▪ a first-class/second-class/third-class degree (=the level at which you pass a degree at a British university) She was awarded a first-class degree.
   ▪ an honours degree (=a British university degree that is above pass level) The ideal candidate will have an honours degree.
   ▪ a first/undergraduate degree (=the lowest level of degree) First degrees usually take three or four years.
   ▪ a higher/postgraduate degree (=one that you take after a first degree) He was offered a grant for a postgraduate degree.
   ▪ a master's degree (=a higher degree for which you study for one or two years) She's taking her master's degree.
   ▪ a science degree (=in a science subject) The government is encouraging more people to get a science degree.
   ▪ an arts degree (=in a subject that is not science) She has an arts degree from Sussex University.
   ▪ a history/chemistry/law etc degree I decided to do a Maths degree.
   ▪ a joint degree British English (=in which you study two subjects) a joint degree in Economics and Statistics
   ▪ a research degree (=a higher degree for which you do your own research)
■ verbs
   ▪ have a degree You will earn more if you have a college degree.
   ▪ hold a degree formal (=have one) The ideal candidate will hold a degree in physical chemistry.
   ▪ do/take a degree in something (=study for a degree) Not enough students are taking degrees in Physics.
   ▪ get/gain a degree She worked hard and got a good degree.
   ▪ be awarded a degree formal (=get one) At the end of the three years, he was awarded a first-class honours degree.
■ nouns
   ▪ a degree course I didn't enjoy the first year of my degree course.
   ▪ degree level Candidates should be educated to degree level.