詞彙精選：degrade的用法和辨析
一、詳細釋義：
v.
降低，貶低 [I,T]
例句：
A dishonest action like that will degrade you.
像這樣不誠實的行爲會使你降低身份。
例句：
Don't degrade yourself by answering him.
不要貶低身份去答理他。
（使）降解 [I,T]
例句：
A unique two-stage process is being used to degrade PCBs in the river's sediments.
在河水沉積物中，降解PCBs是通過2個獨特的步驟進行的。
例句：
The enzyme armoury is sufficient to degrade most proteins to small peptides and amino acids.
這一酶庫足以將大多數蛋白質降解成短肽和氨基酸。
（使）退化 [I,T]
例句：
We need the ability to meet human needs indefinitely without degrading the environment.
我們需要的是無限制地滿足人類需求而不造成環境退化的能力。
例句：
For some reason our balancing reflexes degrade with age.
我們的平衡反射，由於某種原因，隨着年齡的增長而退化。
（使）降級 [I,T]
例句：
He was degraded from the class.
他被降級了。
例句：
Dreyfus is degraded before the Army on January 5, 1895.
德賴弗斯於1895年1月5日在全軍面前被革職。
二、詞義辨析：
humble,humiliate,degrade,disgrace
這些動詞均含有“使丟臉、使受恥辱”之意。humble常可和degrade換用，強調降級所帶來的恥辱；也多指自卑和感到渺小無能的心理狀態。humiliate指損傷或剝奪自尊感，損壞自尊心，強調蒙受恥辱。degrade指因過失而受到降級、階格；也多指因自身的境遇而感到恥辱。disgrace指降低某人在他人心目中的地位，使其丟臉。
三、參考例句：
Don't degrade yourself by answering him.
不要貶低身份去答理他。
You degrade yourself when you tell a lie.
說謊會貶低自己的身份.
She wouldn't degrade herself by asking for money.
她不會自貶身份去要錢。
A dishonest action like that will degrade you.
像這樣不誠實的行爲會使你降低身份。
For some reason our balancing reflexes degrade with age.
我們的平衡反射，由於某種原因，隨着年齡的增長而退化。
As they degrade, the phosphates migrate into the soil.
它們在降解以後，磷酸鹽會進入土壤。
Items will degrade with use and over time, requiring a craftsman to repair them.
物品在過度或者過時使用後會降級，這就需要工匠進行修補。
The enzyme armoury is sufficient to degrade most proteins to small peptides and amino acids.
這一酶庫足以將大多數蛋白質降解成短肽和氨基酸。
It would only destroy her happiness, and degrade her in the public estimation.
那隻會破壞她的幸福，有損於她在社交界的聲望。
If you cheat at examinations and tell lies, you degrade yourself.
如果你考試作弊、說謊話，你就是自甘墮落。
