transitive verb
1. to bring (someone or something) down in moral or intellectual character; deprave; debase.
The board felt that such risqué literature would degrade the minds of the youth.
2. to bring (someone) down from a higher to a lower rank, degree, status, or the like, esp. to deprive of a position, title, or office.
Because of his disrespectful behavior toward an officer, he was degraded to the rank of private.
intransitive verb
of a substance, to break down or decompose.
The metal will degrade over time.