Showing results for "graduated"

• past participle of graduate.
• past tense form of graduate.

graduated

American  

[graj-oo-ey-tid] / ˈgrædʒ uˌeɪ tɪd /

adjective

1. characterized by or arranged in degrees, especially successively, as according to height, depth, or difficulty.

   a graduated series of lessons.

2. marked with divisions or units of measurement.

3. (of a bird's tail) having the longest feathers in the center, the others being successively shorter.

4. (of a tax) increasing along with the taxable base.

   a graduated income tax.

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graduated Scientific  

/ grăj′o̅o̅-ā′tĭd /

1. Divided into or marked with intervals indicating measures, as of length, volume, or temperature.

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Other Word Forms

• nongraduated
  adjective
• overgraduated
  adjective
• ungraduated
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of graduated

First recorded in 1645–55; graduate + -ed ²

Explanation

When something is graduated, it goes step-by-step or by degrees, such as a graduated income tax that has different tax rates for different levels of income. Fees for a fishing license might be graduated, depending on how big the fish you’re trying to catch is. If you're fishing for little porgies, the license might cost $3, but if you're going for a shark, the fee might be $50. A measuring cup is a graduated container — it has lines on the side that mark out divisions, in this case, ¼ cup, ½ cup, and so on.