Graduate \Grad"u*ate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Graduatedp. pr. & vb. n. Graduating.]

[Cf. F. graduer. See Graduate, n., Grade.]

1. To mark with degrees; to divide into regular steps, grades, or intervals, as the scale of a thermometer, a scheme of punishment or rewards, etc.

2. To admit or elevate to a certain grade or degree; esp., in a college or university, to admit, at the close of the course, to an honorable standing defined by a diploma; as, he was graduated at Yale College.

3. To prepare gradually; to arrange, temper, or modify by degrees or to a certain degree; to determine the degrees of; as, to graduate the heat of an oven.

Dyers advance and graduate their colors with salts. --Browne.

4. (Chem.) To bring to a certain degree of consistency, by evaporation, as a fluid.

Graduating engine, a dividing engine. See Dividing engine, under Dividing.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)