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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Degradation \Deg`ra*da"tion\, n. [LL. degradatio, from
degradare: cf. F. d['e]gradation. See {Degrade}.]
1. The act of reducing in rank, character, or reputation, or
of abasing; a lowering from one's standing or rank in
office or society; diminution; as, the degradation of a
peer, a knight, a general, or a bishop.
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He saw many removes and degradations in all the
other offices of which he had been possessed.
--Clarendon.
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2. The state of being reduced in rank, character, or
reputation; baseness; moral, physical, or intellectual
degeneracy; disgrace; abasement; debasement.
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The . . . degradation of a needy man of letters.
--Macaulay.
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Deplorable is the degradation of our nature.
--South.
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Moments there frequently must be, when a sinner is
sensible of the degradation of his state. --Blair.
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3. Diminution or reduction of strength, efficacy, or value;
degeneration; deterioration.
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The development and degradation of the alphabetic
forms can be traced. --I. Taylor
(The
Alphabet).
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4. (Geol.) A gradual wearing down or wasting, as of rocks and
banks, by the action of water, frost etc.
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5. (Biol.) The state or condition of a species or group which
exhibits degraded forms; degeneration.
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The degradation of the species man is observed in
some of its varieties. --Dana.
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6. (Physiol.) Arrest of development, or degeneration of any
organ, or of the body as a whole.
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{Degradation of energy}, or {Dissipation of energy}
(Physics), the transformation of energy into some form in
which it is less available for doing work.

Syn: Abasement; debasement; reduction; decline.
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