The degree of an algebraic curve in higher dimensions This might be a very simple question but I can't seem to find a precise definition of the degree of an algebraic curve, if such can even be defined. In the plane, the degree of an algebraic curve is clear; it is simply the degree of the defining polynomial (a curve in the plane is defined by the equation $f(x,y) = 0$, for some polynomial $f$). In higher dimensions, say $n$, an algebraic curve is defined by $n-1$ polynomial equations $f_1 =0, f_2 =0, \cdots, f_{n-1} = 0$. However, the degree of the curve is no longer clear.
Can the degree of an algebraic curve be defined in higher dimensions? If so, how is it defined?
Thanks
 A: As Zhen Lin says, a geometric way of defining the degree is to take the number of points of intersection of a general hyperplane with the curve.  Roughly, general encodes the condition that you do not want the hyperplane to contain the curve, and you also do not want it to be tangent to the curve.  This definition is certainly accepted, though it can be difficult to work with it, since often you want to deal with "degenerate" cases, and this definition becomes tricky to handle.  The reference to Hartshorne is certainly a good place to start.
I also wanted to make a few comments on some of the statements made.  First, it is not true in general that a curve in $\mathbb{P}^n$ is defined by $n-1$ equations: certainly you need at least $n-1$ equations to define it, but normally you would need more than that.  An easy example is the twisted cubic in $\mathbb{P}^3$.  Second, referring to the comment of J.M., if a curve turns out to be defined by $n-1$ equations in $\mathbb{P}^n$, then its degree would be the product of the degrees of the equations, rather than the maximum.
