noun
degree
A measured step or level on a scale.
This delicate repair requires a high degree of skill.
Etymology
Old French degré meant a step. Scales adopt that stair-like image, dividing a measured quantity or ranked condition into successive steps or levels.
More examples
- The temperature drops to thirty degrees Fahrenheit overnight.
- A right angle measures ninety degrees.
- The two accounts differ only in the degree of detail.
Forms
degree · degrees