Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense grades, present participle grading, past tense, past participle graded
1. verb
If something is graded, its quality is judged, and it is often given a number or a name that indicates how good or bad it is.
Dust masks are graded according to the protection they offer. [beVERB-ed]
South Point College does not grade the students' work. [VERB noun]
...a three-tier grading system. [VERB-ing]
Synonyms: classify, rate, order, class More Synonyms of grade
2. countable noun [oft adjective NOUN]
The grade of a product is its quality, especially when this has been officially judged.
...a good grade of plywood.
...a grade II listed building.
Synonyms: class, condition, quality, brand More Synonyms of grade
Grade is also a combining form.
...weapons-grade plutonium.
...aviation fuel and high-grade oil.
3. countable noun [oft adjective NOUN]
Your grade in an examination or piece of written work is the mark you get, usually in the form of a letter or number, that indicates your level of achievement.
What grade are you hoping to get?
There was a lot of pressure on you to obtain good grades.
Synonyms: mark, degree [archaic], place, order More Synonyms of grade
4. countable noun
Your grade in a company or organization is your level of importance or your rank.
Staff turnover is particularly high among junior grades.
Synonyms: level, position, rank, group More Synonyms of grade
5. countable noun
In the United States, a grade is a group of classes in which all the children are of a similar age. When you are six years old you go into the first grade and you leave school after the twelfth grade.
Mr White teaches first grade in south Georgia.
6. countable noun
A grade is a slope.
[US]
She drove up a steep grade and then began the long descent into the desert.
regional note: in BRIT, use gradient
7. countable noun
Someone's grade is their military rank.
[US]
I was a naval officer, lieutenant junior grade.
8.
See make the grade
grade in British English
(ɡreɪd)
noun
1.
a position or degree in a scale, as of quality, rank, size, or progression
small-grade eggs
high-grade timber
2.
a group of people or things of the same category
3. mainly US
a military or other rank
4.
a stage in a course of progression
5.
a mark or rating indicating achievement or the worth of work done, as at school
6. US and Canadian
a unit of pupils of similar age or ability taught together at school
7. US and Canadian
a.
a part of a railway, road, etc, that slopes upwards or downwards; inclination
b. Also called: gradient
a measure of such a slope, esp the ratio of the vertical distance between two points on the slope to the horizontal distance between them
8.
a unit of angle equal to one hundredth of a right angle or 0.9 degree
9. stockbreeding
a.
an animal with one purebred parent and one of unknown or unimproved breeding
b.
(as modifier)
a grade sheep
Compare crossbred (sense 2), purebred (sense 2)
10. linguistics
one of the forms of the vowel in a morpheme when this vowel varies because of gradation
11. at grade
12. make the grade
verb
13. (transitive)
to arrange according to quality, rank, etc
14. (transitive)
to determine the grade of or assign a grade to
15. (intransitive)
to achieve or deserve a grade or rank
16.
to change or blend (something) gradually; merge
17. (transitive)
to level (ground, a road, etc) to a suitable gradient
18. (transitive) stockbreeding
to cross (one animal) with another to produce a grade animal
Word origin
C16: from French, from Latin gradus step, from gradī to step
-grade in British English
combining form in adjective
indicating a kind or manner of movement or progression
plantigrade
retrograde
Word origin
via French from Latin -gradus, from gradus a step, from gradī to walk
grade in American English
(greɪd)
noun
1.
any of the stages in an orderly, systematic progression; step; degree
2.
a.
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
b.
any of the official ranks or ratings of officers or enlisted men
an army colonel and a navy captain are in grade O-6
c.
an accepted standard or level
up to grade
d.
a group of people of the same rank, merit, worth, etc.
3. US
a.
the degree of rise or descent of a sloping surface, as of a highway, railroad, etc.
b.
such a sloping surface
4.
the ground level around a building
5. US
a.
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
b.
a group of pupils forming such a division in a school
6. US
a mark or rating on an examination, in a school course, etc.
7. US, AnimalHusbandry
an animal with one parent of pure breed
8. Linguistics
any of the various forms in which a vowel may appear in grammatically or etymologicallyrelated forms as a result of gradation
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈgraded or ˈgrading
9.
to arrange or classify by grades; rate according to quality, rank, worth, etc.; sort
10.
to give a grade (sense 6) to
11.
to gradate
12. US
to level or slope (ground, a road, etc.) evenly
13. US, AnimalHusbandry
to improve by crossing with a pure breed
often with up
verb intransitive
14.
to assume an indicated rank or position in a series; be of a certain grade
15.
to change gradually; go through a series of stages
Idioms:
at grade
make the grade
the grades
Word origin
Fr < L gradus, a step, degree, rank < gradi, to step, walk < IE base *ghredh-, to stride > Goth griths, step
-grade in American English
(greɪd)
walking or moving (in a specified manner)
plantigrade
Word origin
< L gradi, to walk: see grade
More idioms containing
grade
make the grade
COBUILD Collocations
grade
award grades
entry grade
exam grade
investment grade
predicted grades
top grade
Examples of 'grade' in a sentence
grade
Exeter also drops entry requirements by one grade.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The one thing any grade of celebrity can't expect to be given is sympathy.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He intends to shake up the classroom, but will he make the grade?
The Sun (2016)
Will your favourite stars make the grade in our exclusive XI?
The Sun (2016)
I'd obviously failed to make the grade.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The West Ham man has a grade one calf injury.
The Sun (2016)
It's the interior that makes this grade II listed townhouse special.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
She got good grades at school but she has changed since meeting this guy.
The Sun (2010)
They see others getting good grades and going off to university and want to do the same.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It is as important as exam grades or degrees.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Nobody was there just to get a grade or a diploma.
Christianity Today (2000)
Few horses have deserved a grade one as much as him.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Some decent little companies may indeed not make the grade.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
It will be my first ride in a grade one race.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
You got a bad grade on your test.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Each site is inspected and graded annually for quality and range of facilities.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
It is the grading that has changed.
The Sun (2012)
There was a lot of pressure on pupils to get good grades.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Can bankers make the grade as teachers?
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Why chasing the top grades at school may not be the best for you in the long run thetimes.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
But some academics fear the abundance of places means students with the lowest grades will also get on to courses.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
He is down in grade and has also slipped in the weights while hinting at a return to his best last time.
The Sun (2015)
This may be another sub-standard grade one but it could still produce a world record.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Ideally, the cabinet should be made from solid wood or a quality furniture grade of plywood.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
She is lucky to get a job at the hospital again, this time at the most junior grade.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
I noticed that a colleague had removed all forms with negative grades and comments before handing them to the assessor.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
All while maintaining our investment grade credit rating and dividend,' the company said.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
A scramble for university places began yesterday as students armed with record numbers of A* grades vied for degree courses.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The women felt they deserved grade C pay, but management refused.
The Sun (2010)
It carried out a 351 million rights issue in the summer to preserve its investment grade debt rating, but its debts have concerned shareholders.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
In other languages
grade
British English: grade /ɡreɪd/ NOUN
The grade of a product is its quality.
...a good grade of plywood.
American English: grade
Arabic: مَنْزِلَة
Brazilian Portuguese: grau
Chinese: 级别
Croatian: kakvoća
Czech: jakost
Danish: karakter bedømmelse
Dutch: graad
European Spanish: grado escalafón
Finnish: taso aste
French: grade
German: Grad Stufe
Greek: βαθμός
Italian: grado
Japanese: 等級
Korean: 등급
Norwegian: grad rang
Polish: stopień skala
European Portuguese: grau
Romanian: clasă
Russian: степень
Latin American Spanish: grado
Swedish: grad
Thai: ระดับชั้น
Turkish: derece düzey
Ukrainian: якість
Vietnamese: mức
All related terms of 'grade'
B-grade
A B-grade person or thing is one that you consider to be inferior or of poor quality.
H grade
education , Scottish → another name for Higher Grade → See also higher
O grade
the basic level of the Scottish Certificate of Education , now replaced by Standard Grade
at grade
on the same level
low-grade
inferior
pay grade
the position at which an employee stands on a scale of remunerations
top grade
Your grade in an examination or piece of written work is the mark you get, usually in the form of a letter or number, that indicates your level of achievement .
bubs grade
a baby
entry grade
Your grade in an examination or piece of written work is the mark you get , usually in the form of a letter or number, that indicates your level of achievement .
exam grade
Your grade in an examination or piece of written work is the mark you get, usually in the form of a letter or number, that indicates your level of achievement .
fifth grade
the fifth year of school , when children are ten or eleven years old
first grade
the first school year after kindergarten when children are six or seven years old
grade book
a book in which a student's grades are recorded
grade point
a mark of a student's academic achievement which is the average of all the grades that they have been awarded during the course of their studies
grade sheet
a piece of paper on which a student's grades are recorded
high-grade
of a higher than average standard or quality
ninth grade
the ninth year of school , usually the first year of high school
sixth grade
(in the US) the sixth school year after kindergarten , usually containing pupils around 11 or 12 years old
tenth grade
(in the US) the tenth year of school, when students are 15 or 16 years old
third grade
(in the US) the third year of school , when children are eight or nine years old
eighth grade
the eighth year of school, when students are 12 to 14 years old
fourth grade
the fourth year of school, when children are nine or ten years old
grade cricket
competitive cricket , in which cricket club teams are arranged in grades
grade school
In the United States , a grade school is the same as an → elementary school .
Higher Grade
the advanced level of the Scottish Certificate of Education
reserve-grade
denoting a sporting team of the second rank in a club
second grade
(in the US) the second year of school, when children are seven or eight years old
seventh grade
(in the US) the seventh year of school, when students are 11 to 13 years old
twelfth grade
(in the US) the final year of secondary school after which students usually graduate at age 17 or 18
weapons-grade
Weapons-grade substances such as uranium or plutonium are of a quality which makes them suitable for use in the manufacture of nuclear weapons.
eleventh grade
the eleventh year of school , when students are 16 or 17 years old
grade crossing
A grade crossing is a place where a railway track crosses a road at the same level .
grade inflation
an apparently continual increase in numbers of students attaining high examination grades , or the practice of awarding grades in this way
Ordinary grade
the basic level of the Scottish Certificate of Education , now replaced by Standard Grade
Standard Grade
(formerly, in Scotland) a type of examination designed to test skills and the application of knowledge , replaced O grade
conservation grade
relating to food produced using traditional methods where possible , and following strict specifications regarding animal feeds and welfare , the use of chemical fertilizers , wildlife conservation , and land management
grade separation
a point at which a railway and a road cross at different levels, one of them through an underpass or overpass
investment grade
The grade of a product is its quality, especially when this has been officially judged .
make the grade
If someone makes the grade , they succeed, especially by reaching a particular standard.
high-grade mineral
a mineral fulfilling certain conditions as regards purity or other physical properties
grade point average
a mark of a student's academic achievement which is the average of all the grades that they have been awarded during the course of their studies
grade school teacher
a teacher in a grade school
middle-grade manager
a level of management in an organization or business consisting of executives or senior supervisory staff in charge of the detailed running of an organization or business and reporting to top management
lieutenant junior grade
an officer ranking above an ensign and below a lieutenant
GPA
grade point average
elementary school
An elementary school is a school where children are taught for the first six or sometimes eight years of their education.
level crossing
A level crossing is a place where a railway line crosses a road.
railway crossing
a point at which a railway and a road cross , esp one with barriers that close the road when a train is scheduled to pass
Chinese translation of 'grade'
grade
(ɡreɪd)
n(c)
(= quality)[of goods, product]等级(級) (děngjí)
(= rank) (in company, organization) 级(級)别(別) (jíbié)
(= school mark) 分数(數) (fēnshù) (个(個), gè)
(US, = school class) 年级(級) (niánjí) (个(個), gè)
(US, = gradient) 坡 (pō)
vt
(= rank, class) 分等次 (fēn děngcì)
to make the grade达(達)到标(標)准(準) (dádào biāozhǔn)
(verb)
Definition
to give a grade to
The college does not grade the children's work.
Synonyms
classify
Rocks can be classified according to their mode of origin.
rate
The film was rated excellent by 90 per cent of children.
order
Entries in the book are ordered alphabetically.
class
I would class my garden as being medium in size.
group
The fact sheets are grouped into seven sections.
sort
He sorted the materials into their folders.
value
I have had my jewellery valued for insurance purposes.
cocaine valued at $53 million
range
The pots are all ranged in neat rows.
rank
Universities were ranked according to marks scored in seven areas.
brand
arrange
He started to arrange the books in piles.
evaluate
Trained nurses are required to evaluate the patients' individual needs.
1 (noun)
Definition
a place on a scale of quality, rank, or size
a good grade of plywood
Synonyms
class
Reducing the size of classes should be a priority.
condition
quality
high quality paper and plywood
brand
the British brand of socialism
2 (noun)
Definition
a mark or rating indicating a student's level of achievement
pressure on students to obtain good grades
Synonyms
mark
He did well to get such a good mark.
degree (archaic)
the fall of a man of high degree and noble character
place
order
He maintained that the higher orders of society must rule the lower.
3 (noun)
Definition
a rank or level of importance in a company or organization
Staff turnover is high among junior grades.
Synonyms
level
in order according to their level of difficulty
position
their changing role and position in society
rank
He eventually rose to the rank of captain.
group
The recipes are divided into groups according to their main ingredients.
order
the order of insects Coleoptera, better known as beetles
class
the relationship between different social classes
stage
the final stage of the tour
step
This is the final step in the career ladder.
station
The vast majority knew their station in life and kept to it.
category
The entries were organised into six different categories.
rung
echelon
the lower echelons of society
idiom
See make the grade
Additional synonyms
in the sense of arrange
Definition
to put into a proper or systematic order
He started to arrange the books in piles.
Synonyms
put in order,
group,
form,
order,
sort,
class,
position,
range,
file,
rank,
line up,
organize,
set out,
sequence,
exhibit,
sort out (informal),
array,
classify,
tidy,
marshal,
align,
categorize,
systematize,
dispose,
jack up (New Zealand, informal)
in the sense of brand
Definition
a particular kind or variety
the British brand of socialism
Synonyms
type,
make,
sort,
kind,
class,
quality,
variety,
species,
strain,
grade,
cast
in the sense of category
Definition
a class or group of things or people with some quality or qualities in common
The entries were organised into six different categories.