A gradient is a slope, or the degree to which the ground slopes.
[British]
...a gradient of 1 in 3.
The courses are long and punishing, with steep gradients.
regional note: in AM, usually use grade
Synonyms: slope, hill, rise, grade More Synonyms of gradient
2. countable noun [with supplement]
The gradient of a graph or series of measurements is the rate at which one set of amounts changes in relation to another.
[technical]
gradient in British English
(ˈɡreɪdɪənt)
noun
1. Also called (esp US): grade
a part of a railway, road, etc, that slopes upwards or downwards; inclination
2. Also called (esp US and Canadian): grade
a measure of such a slope, esp the ratio of the vertical distance between two points on the slope to the horizontal distance between them
3. physics
a measure of the change of some physical quantity, such as temperature or electric potential, over a specified distance
4. mathematics
a.
(of a curve) the slope of the tangent at any point on a curve with respect to the horizontal axis
b.
(of a function, f(x, y, z)) the vector whose components along the axes are the partial derivatives of the function with respect to each variable, and whose direction is that in which the derivative of the function has its maximum value. Usually written: grad f, ∇f or ∇f
Compare curl (sense 11), divergence (sense 4)
adjective
5.
sloping uniformly
Word origin
C19: from Latin gradiēns stepping, from gradī to go
gradient in American English
(ˈgreɪdiənt)
adjective
1.
ascending or descending with a uniform slope
noun
2.
a.
a slope, as of a road or railroad
b.
the degree of such slope
3. Biology
a gradation in rate of growth, metabolism, etc. in an organism, growing part, or developing embryo
4. US, Ancient Mathematics
a vector pointing in the direction of the most rapid increase of a function and having coordinates that are the partial derivatives of the function
5. Physics
the rate of change of a physical quantity, as temperature or pressure, with distance
Word origin
L gradiens (gen. gradientis), prp. of gradi, to step: see grade
Examples of 'gradient' in a sentence
gradient
It is popular with wave and kite surfers because of the consistent waves and the gentle gradient as beach meets sea.
The Sun (2014)
Air tries to move from high pressure to low pressure areas and the sharper the pressure gradient the faster it moves.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Now there's a sharp gradient between top and average earners.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Walk fast for 4 min up an 8-10 per cent gradient.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The gradient, gentle as it was, enforced a modest pace and frequent halts.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
You can keep tabs on how your performance is affected by, say, a steep gradient.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The gradient is 40 degrees.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
One seam had a steep gradient, and the further it went down, the wetter it got.
Max Arthur Lost Voices of the Edwardians: 19011910 in the words of the Men & Women Who WereThere (2006)
In other languages
gradient
British English: gradient NOUN
A gradient is a slope, or the degree to which the ground slopes.
...a gradient of 1 in 3.
American English: grade
Brazilian Portuguese: gradiente
Chinese: 斜坡
European Spanish: pendiente
French: inclinaison
German: Steigung
Italian: pendenza
Japanese: 勾配
Korean: 비탈
European Portuguese: gradiente
Latin American Spanish: pendiente
All related terms of 'gradient'
gradient post
a small white post beside a railway line at a point where the gradient changes having arms set at angles representing the gradients
pressure gradient
the change of pressure per unit distance
barometric gradient
→ pressure gradient
temperature gradient
the rate of change in temperature in a given direction , esp in altitude
adverse pressure gradient
an increase of pressure in the direction of flow
alternating-gradient focusing
a method of focusing beams of charged particles in high-energy accelerators , in which a series of magnetic or electrostatic lenses alternately converge and diverge the beam, producing a net focusing effect and thus preventing the beam from spreading
favourable pressure gradient
a decrease of pressure in the direction of flow
Chinese translation of 'gradient'
gradient
(ˈɡreɪdɪənt) (Brit)
n(c)
[of road, slope]坡度 (pōdù)
美 = grade
(noun)
Definition
a measure of the steepness of such a slope
a hill with a gradient of 1 in 3
Synonyms
slope
a mountain slope
hill
the shady street that led up the hill to the office building
rise
I climbed to the top of the rise.
grade
incline
I came to a halt at the edge of a steep incline.
camber
bank
resting indolently upon a grassy bank
declivity
acclivity
Additional synonyms
in the sense of acclivity
Synonyms
slope,
rise,
hill,
ascent,
rising ground
in the sense of bank
Definition
a slope, as of a hill
resting indolently upon a grassy bank
Synonyms
mound,
banking,
rise,
hill,
mass,
pile,
heap,
ridge,
dune,
embankment,
knoll,
hillock,
kopje or koppie (South Africa)
in the sense of hill
Definition
an incline or slope
the shady street that led up the hill to the office building