degenerate
verb intransitive /dɪˈdʒen.ə.reɪt/
■to become worse in quality （品质）下降；退化，衰退•Educational standards are degenerating year by year because of a lack of funds.由于缺乏资金，教育水准连年下降。 •What was intended as a peaceful demonstration rapidly degenerated into violence.一场原本和平的示威迅速演变成了暴力事件。
adjective UK [dɪˈdʒen.ər.ət] US [-ə˞-/
■having low standards of behaviour 堕落的，颓废的•a degenerate young man堕落的年轻人
noun countable UK [dɪˈdʒen.ər.ət] US [-ə˞-] formal disapproving
■someone with low standards of behaviour 堕落的人，颓废的人•They're just moral degenerates with no sense of decency.他们这些人道德败坏，毫无廉耻之心。 |