measures Degree (music), identification of a note in a scale by its relation to the tonic Degree of inventiveness in inventions and patents Degree of separation in connectivity between groups (first degree is closest) Degree of relationship, in kinship between individuals (first degree is closest) Consanguinity, or level of kinship Comparison (grammar) - degrees of comparison include positive, comparative, and superlative (e.g. "good", "better", and "best", respectively) The severity of a crime, e.g., first degree murder (first degree is worst) The intensity of a burn (the higher the worse) A level of initiation, often used in fraternal organizations A ranking of black belt, in certain martial arts People Asha Jaquilla Degree (born 1990), an American child who went missing in 2000 Brands Da Degrees, Canadian record label and hip hop collective Degree (deodorant), a brand of antiperspirant Other uses Degree (freemasonry) Degree of Knights Templar (Freemasonry), a special case of a degree in freemasonry