a step, stage or degree in rank, quality, value etc; a mark (e.g. 80%) or rating (e.g. 'Excellent' or 'Fair') given to a student for work done
rank, step
Cases of word usage
1) (title of) a woman who has been awarded the highest grade of the Order of the British Empire (dame)
2) to reduce (a person) to a lower rank or grade (demote)
3) to reduce (a person, thing) to a lower grade or rank (downgrade)
4) of average size, quality, grade etc (middling)
5) (a position in) a category or class; grade in the armed forces; a line of people or things (rank)
6) to raise (an exam result, the quality of a product etc) to a higher grade (upgrade)
