1. (verb) to decline or deteriorate in quality, character, or function
The situation degenerated into chaos.
A situação degenerou em caos.
2. (adjective) having declined to a lower or worse state; morally corrupt
The degenerate behavior shocked the community.
O comportamento degenerado chocou a comunidade.
3. (noun) a person whose moral or mental qualities have deteriorated
He was considered a degenerate by society.
Ele era considerado um degenerado pela sociedade.
4. (adjective, biology) having lost specialized characteristics or structure
The degenerate tissue was removed surgically.
O tecido degenerado foi removido cirurgicamente.