Degradation
Degradation , noun
[Late Latin degradatio, from degradare: compare French dégradation. 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.
He saw many removes and degradations in all the other offices of which he had been possessed.
2.
The state of being reduced in rank, character, or reputation; baseness; moral, physical, or intellectual degeneracy; disgrace; abasement; debasement.
The... degradation of a needy man of letters.
Deplorable is the degradation of our nature.
Moments there frequently must be, when a sinner is sensible of the degradation of his state.
3.
Diminution or reduction of strength, efficacy, or value; degeneration; deterioration.
The development and degradation of the alphabetic forms can be traced.
4.
(Geology) A gradual wearing down or wasting, as of rocks and banks, by the action of water, frost etc.
5.
(Biology) The state or condition of a species or group which exhibits degraded forms; degeneration.
The degradation of the species man is observed in some of its varieties.
6.
(Physiology) Arrest of development, or degeneration of any organ, or of the body as a whole.
Collocations (1)
Degradation of energy or Dissipation of energy (Physics) , the transformation of energy into some form in which it is less available for doing work.