1
- a particular level of rank, quality, proficiency, intensity, or value（等级、质量、熟练程度、强度或数值上的）级别：
sea salt is usually available in coarse or fine grades.
从级别上来说, 海盐通常有粗盐和细盐之分。
1.1
- a level in a salary or employment structure（薪水或就业结构中的）等级。
1.2
- Brit. a level of importance allocated to a listed building〈英〉（对列入名单的建筑物按重要性进行的）分级：
as modifier a Grade I listed building.一级建筑。
1.3
- chiefly N. Amer. a mark indicating the quality of a student's work〈主北美〉（表明学生成绩的）分数：
I got good grades last semester.
上学期我得了高分。
1.4
- Brit. an examination, especially in music〈英〉（尤指音乐的）考试：
I took grade five and got a distinction.
我参加了五级的考试并得了优良。
1.5
- N. Amer. (with specifying ordinal number) those pupils in a school or school system who are grouped by age or ability for teaching at a particular level for a year〈北美〉（按学生年龄或受教能力划分的）年级：
she teaches first grade.
她教一年级。
1.6
- (in historical linguistics) a relative position in a series of forms involving ablaut（历史语言学）元音变换的相应位置。
1.7
- Zoology a group of animals at a similar evolutionary level【动】（由一组处于相似进化程度的动物形成的）级。
2
- chiefly N. Amer. a gradient or slope〈主北美〉梯度; 斜坡：
just over the crest of a long seven per cent grade.
刚越过了一个长长的0.07度斜坡的山顶。
3
- usu. as modifier a variety of cattle produced by crossing with a superior breed与纯种杂交改良的牛：
grade stock.
改良的家畜。
with obj. (一般作be graded)
1
- arrange in or allocate to grades; class or sort按照级别安排或分配; 分类：
they are graded according to thickness
它们是按厚度分类的
as adj. graded carefully graded exercises.仔细分类的练习。
1.1
- chiefly N. Amer. give a mark to (a student or a piece of work)〈主北美〉（给学生或作业）打分。
2
- no obj. pass gradually from one level, especially a shade of colour, into another（尤指色彩）从一个等级逐渐进入另一个等级：
the sky graded from blue at the top of the shot to white on the horizon.
天空从镜头顶端的蓝色渐渐变成地平线上的白色。
3
- reduce (a road) to an easy gradient（将路面）坡度减缓。
4
- cross (livestock) with a superior breed（家畜）与优良品种杂交。
短语
at grade
- N. Amer. on the same level〈北美〉在同一水平面上：
the crossing at grade of two streets.
两条街的平面交叉路口。
make the grade
- informal succeed; reach the desired standard〈非正式〉成功; 达到理想标准。
词源
early 16th cent.: from French, or from Latin gradus 'step'. Originally used as a unit of measurement of angles (a degree of arc), the term later referred to degrees of merit or quality.