degenerate

Pronunciation

noun

• IPA ^(key): /dɪˈdʒɛnərət/

• Audio (UK)

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verb

• IPA ^(key): e/dɪˈdʒɛnəreɪt/

• Audio (UK)

  (file)

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Noun

Singular degenerate

Plural degenerates

1. (countable) A degenerate is a person who loses all moral values.

   He became a degenerate after becoming a junkie and losing his moral values.

   Those drug addicts and degenerates on the street corner should not be allowed near children.

Verb

Plain form degenerate

Third-person singular degenerates

Past tense degenerated

Past participle degenerated

Present participle degenerating

1. Degenerate is to break down, to crumble, erode.

   She was a junkie and her health degenerated day by day.

Related words

• degenerative