degrade
/dɪˈgreɪd; dɪ`ɡred/ v
1 [Tn] cause (sb) to be less moral and less deserving of respect 贬低（某人）; 降低（某人）的身分; 使（某人）丢脸
degrade oneself by cheating and telling lies 因欺骗和说谎而降低自己的身分
I felt degraded by having to ask for money. 我出於无奈向别人要钱而自觉有失尊严.
2 [I, Ipr, Tn, Tn.pr]
(chemistry or biology 化或生) (cause sth to) become less complex in structure （使某物）降解, 分解, 退化
degrade molecules into atoms 将分子降解为原子.