de·grade / diˈgrād/ • v. 1. [tr.] treat or regard (someone) with contempt or disrespect. ∎  lower the character or quality of: degraded radio signals. ∎ archaic reduce (someone) to a lower rank.2. break down or deteriorate chemically: [intr.] when exposed to light, the materials will degrade | [tr.] the bacteria will degrade hydrocarbons. ∎  [tr.] Physics reduce (energy) to a less readily convertible form. ∎  [tr.] Geol. wear down (rock) and cause it to disintegrate.DERIVATIVES: de·grad·a·bil·i·ty / diˌgrādəˈbilitē/ n.de·grad·a·ble adj.deg·ra·da·tive / ˈdegrəˌdātiv/ adj.de·grad·er n.

degrade reduce to a lower rank. XIV. — (O)F. dégrader :- ecclL. dēgradāre, f. DE- 1 + gradus rank, DEGREE.
So degradation XVI. — (O)F. dégradation or ecclL. dēgradātiō.