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graduate

grad·u·ate [ grájjoo ət ]

noun (plural grad·u·ates)

Definition:

1. somebody who has completed studies: somebody who has obtained a diploma or degree, e.g. from a high school or college

2. holder of degree: somebody who has obtained a bachelor's degree from a college, university, or other higher education institution

3. science container with markings: a container, e.g. a flask or tube, with graduated markings that is used for measuring liquids

verb (past and past participle grad·u·at·ed, present participle grad·u·at·ing, 3rd person present singular grad·u·ates)

Definition:

1. intransitive verb education finish school or college: to receive a diploma or degree after completing a course of study in a school, college, or university

We both graduated from high school in 1996.

2. transitive verb education give a certificate: to give a diploma or degree to a student completing a course of study

3. intransitive verb move up: to move upward from one level or activity to another

I've graduated from skiing to snowboarding.

4. transitive verb mark something with degrees or levels: to mark something with units of measurement

5. transitive verb sort things by differences: to sort things into groups according to quality, size, or type

adjective

Definition:

education past bachelor's degree: relating to education for students who have acquired a bachelor's degree

[15th century. < medieval Latin graduat-, past participle of graduare "confer a degree on" < Latin gradus "step, stage"]

grad·u·a·tor noun

Word Usage


	Avoid using the verb graduate transitively to mean "to receive a diploma or degree from," as in She graduated Duke in 1999. Say instead She graduated from Duke in 1999 or She was graduated from Duke in 1999. It is correct, however, to use graduate transitively to mean "to confer a diploma or degree on," as in Harvard Law School graduated 200 new attorneys last year.

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