Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

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.

            He saw many removes and degradations in all the
            other offices of which he had been possessed.
                                                  --Clarendon.

   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.
                                                  --Macaulay.

            Deplorable is the degradation of our nature.
                                                  --South.

            Moments there frequently must be, when a sinner is
            sensible of the degradation of his state. --Blair.

   3. Diminution or reduction of strength, efficacy, or value;
      degeneration; deterioration.

            The development and degradation of the alphabetic
            forms can be traced.                  --I. Taylor
                                                  (The
                                                  Alphabet).

   4. (Geol.) A gradual wearing down or wasting, as of rocks and
      banks, by the action of water, frost etc.

   5. (Biol.) 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.                --Dana.

   6. (Physiol.) Arrest of development, or degeneration of any
      organ, or of the body as a whole.

   {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.



   {Accumulation}, {Conservation}, {Correlation}, & {Degradation
   of energy}, etc. (Physics) See under {Accumulation},
      {Conservation}, {Correlation}, etc.

   Syn: Force; power; potency; vigor; strength; spirit;
        efficiency; resolution.