Noun

(en noun)

Diameter of the bore of a firearm, typically measured between opposite lands.

The diameter of round or cylindrical body, as of a bullet, a projectile, or a column.

A nominal name for a cartridge type, which may not exactly indicate its true size and may include other measurements such as cartridge length or black powder capacity. Eg 7.62×39 or 38.40.

Unit of measure used to express the length of the bore of a weapon. The number of calibres is determined by dividing the length of the bore of the weapon, from the breech face of the tube to the muzzle, by the diameter of its bore. A gun tube the bore of which is 40 feet (480 inches) long and 12 inches in diameter is said to be 40 calibers long.

(figuratively) Relative size, importance, magnitude.

*

(figuratively) Capacity or compass of mind.

(Burke)

(dated) Degree of importance or station in society.

Noun

(en noun)

(obsolete, outside, heraldry) A step on a set of stairs; the rung of a ladder.

An individual step, or stage, in any process or scale of values.

A stage of rank or privilege; social standing.

* 1526 , (William Tyndale), trans. Bible , Luke XX:

Master, we knowe that thou sayest, and teachest ryght, nether considerest thou eny mannes degre , but techest the waye of god truely.

(genealogy) A ‘step’ in genealogical descent.

* 2002 , , 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.

* 1851 , (Herman Melville), (Moby-Dick) :

If they but knew it, almost all men in their degree , some time or other, cherish very nearly the same feelings towards the ocean with me.

The amount that an entity possesses a certain property; relative intensity, extent.

*

, title=(The Celebrity), chapter=1 , passage=In the old days, to my commonplace and unobserving mind, he gave no evidences of genius whatsoever. He never read me any of his manuscripts, […], and therefore my lack of detection of his promise may in some degree be pardoned.}}

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.)

(geometry) A unit of measurement of angle equal to 1/360 of a circle's circumference.

(physics) A unit of measurement of temperature on any of several scales, such as Celsius or Fahrenheit.

(mathematics) The sum of the exponents of a term; the order of a polynomial.

(graph theory) The number of edges that a vertex takes part in; a valency.

(surveying) The curvature of a circular arc, expressed as the angle subtended by a fixed length of arc or chord.