1 the quality of a particular product or material:
All the materials used were of the highest grade.
2 a level of ability or rank that sb has in an organization:
salary grades (= levels of pay) * She's still only on a secretarial grade.
3 a mark given in an exam or for a piece of school work: (BrE) She got good grades in her exams. * (AmE) She got good grades on her exams. * 70% of pupils got Grade C or above.
4 (in the US school system) one of the levels in a school with children of similar age:
Sam is in (the) second grade.
5 (technical) how serious an illness is:
low / high grade fever
6 (especially AmE) = GRADIENT
7 (BrE) a level of exam in musical skill:
grade 6 piano
IDIOMS
make the grade (informal) to reach the necessary standard; to succeed:
About 10% of trainees fail to make the grade.
