degré

Degré, the French term corresponding to the English word degree, is a polysemous word used across science, education, and everyday language. It derives from Latin gradus, via Old French degré, and mirrors the sense of a step or rank found in English.

In geometry and navigation, a degree is a unit of angular measurement. A full circle comprises 360 degrees, and common references include right angles of 90 degrees and straight angles of 180 degrees. Degrees are subdivided into 60 arcminutes, and each arcminute into 60 arcseconds. The symbol for degrees is the small circle °.

In temperature measurement, degrees accompany Celsius and Fahrenheit (for example, 20 degrees Celsius or 68 degrees Fahrenheit). The SI base unit for thermodynamic temperature is the kelvin, and temperature intervals are expressed in kelvin; Celsius and Fahrenheit remain widely used with degree marks in everyday and practical contexts.

In education, a degree denotes an academic credential earned by completing a program of study. Common examples are bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, and doctoral degrees, awarded by universities and other institutions. The term also appears in phrases such as “degree of specialization” to indicate level or extent.

In mathematics and science, degree has other precise meanings. The degree of a polynomial is the highest exponent of its variable with a nonzero coefficient. More generally, degree can describe the level or intensity of a property, such as degrees of certainty, severity, or similarity.

Overall, degré encompasses measurements of angle and temperature, educational credentials, and various notions of level or extent, reflecting its broad use in French and related languages.