gradient

gra·di·ent  (grd-nt)

n. Abbr. grad.

1. A rate of inclination; a slope.

2. An ascending or descending part; an incline.

3. Physics The rate at which a physical quantity, such as temperature or pressure, increases or decreases relative to change in a given variable, especially distance.

4. Mathematics A vector having coordinate components that are the partial derivatives of a function with respect to its variables.

5. Biology A series of progressively increasing or decreasing differences in the growth rate, metabolism, or physiological activity of a cell, organ, or organism.

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[Perhaps grade + -ient, as in quotient.]

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gradient

Noun

1. Also (esp. US): (grade) a sloping part of a railway, road, or path

2. Also (esp. US): (grade) a measure of the steepness of such a slope

3. a measure of the change in something, such as the angle of a curve, over a specified distance [Latin gradiens stepping]

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gradient  (grd-nt) 1. The degree to which something inclines; a slope. A mountain road with a gradient of ten percent rises one foot for every ten feet of horizontal length. 2. The rate at which a physical quantity, such as temperature or pressure changes over a distance. 3. A operator on scalar fields yielding a vector function, where the value of the vector evaluated at any point indicates the direction and degree of change of the field at that point.

gradient The gradient on the left is gentle enough for trees to take root. The gradient on the right is too steep.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	gradient - a graded change in the magnitude of some physical quantity or dimension change - a relational difference between states; especially between states before and after some event; "he attributed the change to their marriage" concentration gradient - a gradient in concentration of a solute as a function of distance through a solution; "the movement of a solute down its concentration gradient is called diffusion" gravity gradient - a gradient in the gravitational forces acting on different parts of a nonspherical object; "the gravity gradient of the moon causes the ocean tides on Earth" temperature gradient - change in temperature as a function of distance (especially altitude)
	2.	gradient - the property possessed by a line or surface that departs from the horizontal; "a five-degree gradient" slope grade - the gradient of a slope or road or other surface; "the road had a steep grade" rake, slant, pitch - degree of deviation from a horizontal plane; "the roof had a steep pitch" precipitousness, steepness, abruptness - the property possessed by a slope that is very steep gentleness, gradualness - the property possessed by a slope that is very gradual spatial relation, position - the spatial property of a place where or way in which something is situated; "the position of the hands on the clock"; "he specified the spatial relations of every piece of furniture on the stage"

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gradient

noun slope, hill, rise, grade, incline, bank

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The rate of inclination to horizontal expressed as a ratio, such as 1:25, indicating a one unit rise to 25 units of horizontal distance.

Translations

gradient [ˈgreɪdɪənt] n → pendiente f

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gradient [ˈgreɪdɪənt] n → inclinaison f, pente f;

(Geom) → gradient m

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gradient [ˈgreɪdɪənt] n (upward) → Neigung f, Steigung f;

(downward) → Neigung, Gefälle nt;

(Geom) → Gradient m

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gradient [ˈgreɪdɪənt] n → pendenza, gradiente m