noun

1. any of the stages in an orderly, systematic progression; step; degree
2. 1. a degree or rating in a scale classifying according to quality, rank, worth, intensity, etc.: often in hyphenated compounds grade A eggs, weapons-grade plutonium
   2. any of the official ranks or ratings of officers or enlisted men an army colonel and a navy captain are in grade O-6
   3. an accepted standard or level up to grade
   4. a group of people of the same rank, merit, worth, etc.
3. ☆
   1. the degree of rise or descent of a sloping surface, as of a highway, railroad, etc.
   2. such a sloping surface
4. the ground level around a building
5. ☆
   1. any of the divisions in a school curriculum usually equal to one year; most systems in the U.S. include twelve grades after the kindergarten
   2. a group of pupils forming such a division in a school
6. ☆ a mark or rating on an examination, in a school course, etc.
7. ☆ Animal Husbandry an animal with one parent of pure breed
8. Linguis. any of the various forms in which a vowel may appear in grammatically or etymologically related forms as a result of gradation

Etymology: Fr < L gradus, a step, degree, rank < gradi, to step, walk < IE base *ghredh-, to stride > Goth griths, step

transitive verb graded grad′ed, grading grad′·ing

1. to arrange or classify by grades; rate according to quality, rank, worth, etc.; sort
2. to give a grade (sense ) to
3. to gradate
4. ☆ to level or slope (ground, a road, etc.) evenly
5. ☆ Animal Husbandry to improve by crossing with a pure breed: often with up

intransitive verb

1. to assume an indicated rank or position in a series; be of a certain grade
2. to change gradually; go through a series of stages