different between degree vs length

English

Etymology

From Middle English degre, borrowed from Old French degré (French: degré), itself from Latin gradus, with the prefix de-.

Pronunciation

• enPR: d?gr?', IPA^(key): /d????i?/
• Rhymes: -i?

Noun

degree (plural degrees)

1. A stage of proficiency or qualification in a course of study, now especially an award bestowed by a university or, in some countries, a college, as a certification of academic achievement. (In the United States, can include secondary schools.) [from 14th c.]

2. (geometry) A unit of measurement of angle equal to ¹?₃₆₀ of a circle's circumference. [from 14th c.]

3. (physics) A unit of measurement of temperature on any of several scales, such as Celsius or Fahrenheit. [from 18th c.]

4. (algebra) The sum of the exponents of a term; the order of a polynomial. [from 18th c.]

5. (algebra, field theory) The dimensionality of a field extension.

6. (graph theory) The number of edges that a vertex takes part in; a valency.
7. (logic) The number of logical connectives in a formula.
8. (surveying) The curvature of a circular arc, expressed as the angle subtended by a fixed length of arc or chord.
9. (geography) A unit of measurement of latitude and longitude which together identify a location on the Earth's surface.
10. (grammar) Any of the three stages (positive, comparative, superlative) in the comparison of an adjective or an adverb.
11. (obsolete outside heraldry) A step on a set of stairs; the rung of a ladder. [from 13th c.]
12. An individual step, or stage, in any process or scale of values. [from 13th c.]
13. A stage of rank or privilege; social standing. [from 13th c.]
14. (genealogy) A ‘step’ in genealogical descent. [from 14th c.]
    • 2002, Colin Jones, The Great Nation, Penguin 2003, page 140:

      Louis created the École militaire in Paris in 1751, in which 500 scholarships were designated for noblemen able to prove four degrees of noble status.

15. (now rare) One's relative state or experience; way, manner. [from 14th c.]
16. The amount that an entity possesses a certain property; relative intensity, extent. [from 14th c.]

Usage notes

• A person who is engaged in a course of study leading to the earning of a degree can be described (in the present progressive tense) as "doing a degree" in British English, and as "getting a degree" in American English. For example, in American English, "She is currently getting her master's degree at State University." In British English, "I am still confused about when to use 'an' instead of 'a'. Is it an hour or a hour, and if someone is doing a master's degree in arts, is it an MA or a MA?" (Ask Oxford.Com - Ask the Experts - Frequently Asked Questions (Grammar)).

Synonyms

• (unit of angle): °, arcdegree
• (unit of temperature): °
• (unit of latitude): °
• (unit of longitude): °

Coordinate terms

• scale

Derived terms

Translations

Anagrams

• re-edge

Middle English

Etymology 1

Borrowed from Old French decré.

Noun

degree

1. Alternative form of decre

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Old French degré.

Noun

degree

1. Alternative form of degre

English

Etymology

From Middle English lengthe, from Old English lengþu (“longness; length”), from Proto-West Germanic *langiþu, from Proto-Germanic *langiþ?, equivalent to long +? -th. Cognate with Scots lenth, lainth (“length”), Saterland Frisian Loangte (“length”), West Frisian lingte, langte (“length”), Dutch lengte (“length”), German Low German Längde, Längd, Längte, Längt (“length”), Danish længde (“length”), Swedish längd (“length”), Icelandic lengd (“length”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation, General American) enPR: l?ng(k)th, l?n(t)th, IPA^(key): /l??(k)?/, /l?n(t)?/
• Rhymes: -??k?, -???, -?nt?, -?n?

Noun

length (countable and uncountable, plural lengths)

1. The distance measured along the longest dimension of an object.
2. Duration.
   • 1941, Robert Frost, The Gift Outright

     Happiness makes up in height for what it lacks in length.

3. (horse racing) The length of a horse, used to indicate the distance between horses at the end of a race.
4. (mathematics) Distance between the two ends of a line segment.
5. (cricket) The distance down the pitch that the ball bounces on its way to the batsman.
6. (figuratively) Total extent.

7. Part of something that is long; a physical piece of something.

8. (theater) A unit of script length, comprising 42 lines.
   • 1890, Henry Austin, Address of Henry Austin Before the Second Nationalist Club (page 38)

     […] open your book of the play, which you have previously carefully perused, and at the same time marked with the proper calls, as thus: a length (or 42 lines) before an entrance, with a pen make a figure on the margin, […]

   • 1960, J. L. Hodgkinson, ?Rex Pogson, The Early Manchester Theatre (page 45)

     The boy was engaged to write out parts at a penny a length (42 lines) for Chetwood, who then charged the manager, […]

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

length (third-person singular simple present lengths, present participle lengthing, simple past and past participle lengthed)

1. (obsolete) To lengthen.
   • 1599, William Shakespeare, The Passionate Pilgrim, XIV. 30:

     Pack night, peep day; good day, of night now borrow: / Short night, to-night, and length thyself to-morrow.

   • 1552, Richard Huloet, "Ladies of Destinie" in Abecedarium Anglico-Latinum

     Was never man such favour could off atall ladies fynde, To cause them lengthe or shorte the day which they to hym assynde.

   • a. 1608, Thomas Sackville, Allegorical Personages described in Hell

     [He] knows full well life doth but length his pain.