Part of speech: Noun
a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality
Example: a moderate grade of intelligence; a high level of care is required; it is all a matter of degree
Categories: Property
Part of speech: Noun
a specific identifiable position in a continuum or series or especially in a process
Example: a remarkable degree of frankness; at what stage are the social sciences?
Categories: State
Part of speech: Noun
a measure for arcs and angles
Example: there are 360 degrees in a circle
Categories: Angular unit
Part of speech: Noun
the highest power of a term or variable
Categories: Exponent, Power, Index
Part of speech: Noun
a unit of temperature on a specified scale
Example: the game was played in spite of the 40-degree temperature
Categories: Temperature unit
Part of speech: Noun
the seriousness of something (e.g., a burn or crime)
Example: harm in the second degree; a second degree burn
Categories: Magnitude
Grade, Arcdegree, Degree, Level, Academic degree
The word "degree" comes from Latin gradus. It started in Old French degré. Then it appeared in Middle English degre.
Each civilization borrowed this word because they encountered the concept through cultural contact.