What does degrees mean?

Answer 1

I assume this question refers to either geometric degrees or to temperature measurements. (Not diplomas awarded by post-secondary institutions.)

In geometry, a degree is a unit of measure of an angle formed by two intersecting lines. It is defined as 1/360th of a full circle. A quarter of a circle forms a right angle (think 12 o'clock to 3 o'clock) and 90/360 equals 1/4, so a right angle is 90 degrees.

When measuring temperature, there are two main types of degree, Fahrenheit and Celsius. A Celsius degree is larger, meaning it measures a greater difference in temperature than one degree Fahrenheit, the ratio being 9 to 5 or 1.8.

Answer 2

Degrees can either be a unit of measurement for rotation (as in a 45 degree angle) or the degree, or power, of a polynomial (a line is a first degree function, a parabola is a second degree function, a cubic equation is a third degree function).