词汇精选：degrade的用法和辨析
一、详细释义：
v.
降低，贬低 [I,T]
例句：
A dishonest action like that will degrade you.
像这样不诚实的行为会使你降低身份。
例句：
Don't degrade yourself by answering him.
不要贬低身份去答理他。
（使）降解 [I,T]
例句：
A unique two-stage process is being used to degrade PCBs in the river's sediments.
在河水沉积物中，降解PCBs是通过2个独特的步骤进行的。
例句：
The enzyme armoury is sufficient to degrade most proteins to small peptides and amino acids.
这一酶库足以将大多数蛋白质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.
例句：
For some reason our balancing reflexes degrade with age.
我们的平衡反射，由于某种原因，随着年龄的增长而退化。
（使）降级 [I,T]
例句：
He was degraded from the class.
他被降级了。
例句：
Dreyfus is degraded before the Army on January 5, 1895.
德赖弗斯于1895年1月5日在全军面前被革职。
二、词义辨析：
humble,humiliate,degrade,disgrace
这些动词均含有“使丢脸、使受耻辱”之意。humble常可和degrade换用，强调降级所带来的耻辱；也多指自卑和感到渺小无能的心理状态。humiliate指损伤或剥夺自尊感，损坏自尊心，强调蒙受耻辱。degrade指因过失而受到降级、阶格；也多指因自身的境遇而感到耻辱。disgrace指降低某人在他人心目中的地位，使其丢脸。
三、参考例句：
Don't degrade yourself by answering him.
不要贬低身份去答理他。
You degrade yourself when you tell a lie.
说谎会贬低自己的身份.
She wouldn't degrade herself by asking for money.
她不会自贬身份去要钱。
A dishonest action like that will degrade you.
像这样不诚实的行为会使你降低身份。
For some reason our balancing reflexes degrade with age.
我们的平衡反射，由于某种原因，随着年龄的增长而退化。
As they degrade, the phosphates migrate into the soil.
它们在降解以后，磷酸盐会进入土壤。
Items will degrade with use and over time, requiring a craftsman to repair them.
物品在过度或者过时使用后会降级，这就需要工匠进行修补。
The enzyme armoury is sufficient to degrade most proteins to small peptides and amino acids.
这一酶库足以将大多数蛋白质降解成短肽和氨基酸。
It would only destroy her happiness, and degrade her in the public estimation.
那只会破坏她的幸福，有损于她在社交界的声望。
If you cheat at examinations and tell lies, you degrade yourself.
如果你考试作弊、说谎话，你就是自甘堕落。
