degree vs stage

degree

noun
  • An individual step, or stage, in any process or scale of values. 

  • The curvature of a circular arc, expressed as the angle subtended by a fixed length of arc or chord. 

  • A ‘step’ in genealogical descent. 

  • A unit of measurement of latitude and longitude which together identify a location on the Earth's surface. 

  • The dimensionality of a field extension. 

  • Any of the three stages (positive, comparative, superlative) in the comparison of an adjective or an adverb. 

  • The sum of the exponents of a term; the order of a polynomial. 

  • A stage of proficiency or qualification in a course of study, now especially an award bestowed by a university or, in some countries, a college, as a certification of academic achievement. (In the United States, can include secondary schools.) 

  • The number of logical connectives in a formula. 

  • A unit of measurement of temperature on any of several scales, such as Celsius or Fahrenheit. 

  • The amount that an entity possesses a certain property; relative intensity, extent. 

  • A stage of rank or privilege; social standing. 

  • The number of edges that a vertex takes part in; a valency. 

  • A step on a set of stairs; the rung of a ladder. 

  • A unit of measurement of angle equal to ¹⁄₃₆₀ of a circle's circumference. 

stage

noun
  • A phase. 

  • A platform; a surface, generally elevated, upon which show performances or other public events are given. 

  • One of the portions of a device (such as a rocket or thermonuclear weapon) which are used or activated in a particular order, one after another. 

  • A floor or storey of a house. 

  • The number of an electronic circuit’s block, such as a filter, an amplifier, etc. 

  • A stagecoach, an enclosed horsedrawn carriage used to carry passengers. 

  • A place where anything is publicly exhibited, or a remarkable affair occurs; the scene. 

  • The succession of rock strata laid down in a single age on the geologic time scale. 

  • The place on a microscope where the slide is located for viewing. 

  • An internship. 

  • A platform, often floating, serving as a kind of wharf. 

  • A level; one of the sequential areas making up the game. 

  • A floor elevated for the convenience of mechanical work, etc.; scaffolding; staging. 

verb
  • To produce on a stage, to perform a play. 

  • To demonstrate in a deceptive manner. 

  • To orchestrate; to carry out. 

  • To place in position to prepare for use. 

  • To determine what stage (a disease, etc.) has progressed to 

  • To jettison a spent stage of a multistage rocket or other launch vehicle and light the engine(s) of the stage above it. 

How often have the words degree and stage occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )