gradual

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grad·u·al

(grăj′o͞o-əl)

adj.

Occurring or developing slowly or by small increments: gradual erosion; a gradual slope.

n. Roman Catholic Church

1. The liturgical book containing the chants for the Mass.

2. A biblical text sung between the Epistle and the Gospel of the Mass.

[Middle English, having steps, from Medieval Latin graduālis, from Latin gradus, step; see grade. N., Middle English, from Medieval Latin graduāle, the part of the service sung by the choir from the altar steps, gradual, from neuter sing. of graduālis.]

grad′u·al·ly adv.

grad′u·al·ness n.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

gradual

(ˈɡrædjʊəl)

adj

1. occurring, developing, moving, etc, in small stages: a gradual improvement in health.

2. not steep or abrupt: a gradual slope.

(Roman Catholic Church) (often capital) Christianity

a. an antiphon or group of several antiphons, usually from the Psalms, sung or recited immediately after the epistle at Mass

b. a book of plainsong containing the words and music of the parts of the Mass that are sung by the cantors and choir

[C16: from Medieval Latin graduālis relating to steps, from Latin gradus a step]

ˈgradually adv

ˈgradualness n

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

grad•u•al

(ˈgrædʒ u əl)

adj.

1. taking place, changing, moving, etc., by small degrees or little by little: gradual improvement.

2. rising or descending at an even, moderate inclination: a gradual slope.

a. an antiphon sung between the Epistle and the Gospel in the Eucharistic service.

b. a book containing the words and music of the parts of the liturgy that are sung by the choir.

[1375–1425; late Middle English < Medieval Latin graduālis pertaining to steps, graduāle the part of the service sung as the choir stood on the altar steps = Latin gradu(s) step, grade + -ālis -al¹]

grad′u•al•ly, adv.

grad′u•al•ness, n.

syn: See slow.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

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Noun	1.	gradual - (Roman Catholic Church) an antiphon (usually from the Book of Psalms) immediately after the epistle at Mass antiphon, antiphony - a verse or song to be chanted or sung in response Church of Rome, Roman Catholic Church, Roman Church, Western Church, Roman Catholic - the Christian Church based in the Vatican and presided over by a pope and an episcopal hierarchy
Adj.	1.	gradual - proceeding in small stages; "a gradual increase in prices" slow - not moving quickly; taking a comparatively long time; "a slow walker"; "the slow lane of traffic"; "her steps were slow"; "he was slow in reacting to the news"; "slow but steady growth" sudden - happening without warning or in a short space of time; "a sudden storm"; "a sudden decision"; "a sudden cure"
	2.	gradual - (of a topographical gradient) not steep or abrupt; "a gradual slope" inclined - at an angle to the horizontal or vertical position; "an inclined plane" steep - having a sharp inclination; "the steep attic stairs"; "steep cliffs"

gradual

adjective steady, even, slow, regular, gentle, moderate, progressive, piecemeal, unhurried Losing weight is a gradual process.
broken, sudden, overnight, abrupt, instantaneous

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

gradual

adjective

1. Proceeding very slowly by degrees:

gradational, piecemeal, step-by-step.

2. Not steep or abrupt:

easy, gentle, moderate.

Translations

تَدريجيتَدْرِيجيّ

postupnýstupňovitý

gradvis

allmählich sukzessiv

βαθμιαίος σταδιακός

gradual paulatino

asteittainenvähittäinen

graduel

postupan

fokozatos

sem òróast stig af stigi

graduale

徐々の

점진적인

laipsniškailaipsniškas

postopen

gradvis

ค่อยเป็นค่อยไป

derece derecekademeli

dần dần

逐渐的

gradual

[ˈgrædjʊəl] ADJ

1. (= slow) [change, improvement, decline] → gradual, paulatino

2. (= not steep) [slope, incline] → suave

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

gradual

[ˈgrædʒuəl] adj [process, change] → graduel(le), progressif/ive

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

gradual

adj → allmählich; decline, recovery, progress → langsam; slope → sanft

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

gradual

[ˈgrædjʊəl] adj (change) → graduale; (slope) → dolce, lieve

gradual

(ˈgradjuəl) adjective

happening gently and slowly. a gradual rise in temperature.

ˈgradually adverb

His health is gradually improving.

gradual

→ تَدْرِيجيّ postupný gradvis allmählich σταδιακός gradual asteittainen graduel postupan graduale 徐々の 점진적인 geleidelijk gradvis stopniowy gradual постепенный gradvis ค่อยเป็นค่อยไป derece derece dần dần 逐渐的

gradual

adj gradual

References in classic literature ?

Let us now see whether the several facts and rules relating to the geological succession of organic beings, better accord with the common view of the immutability of species, or with that of their slow and gradual modification, through descent and natural selection.

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Valparaiso -- Portillo Pass -- Sagacity of Mules -- Mountain- torrents -- Mines, how discovered -- Proofs of the gradual Elevation of the Cordillera -- Effect of Snow on Rocks -- Geological Structure of the two main Ranges, their distinct Origin and Upheaval -- Great Subsidence -- Red Snow -- Winds -- Pinnacles of Snow -- Dry and clear Atmosphere -- Electricity -- Pampas -- Zoology of the opposite Side of the Andes -- Locusts -- Great Bugs -- Mendoza -- Uspallata Pass -- Silicified Trees buried as they grew -- Incas Bridge -- Badness of the Passes exaggerated -- Cumbre -- Casuchas -- Valparaiso.

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It is this gradual humanising of the divine female that brings about the spiritualising of the unregenerate male.

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Yet suicide, quick or slow, a sudden spill or a gradual oozing away through the years, is the price John Barleycorn exacts.

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It stood on the south-east side of a hill, but nearer the bottom than the top of it, so as to be sheltered from the north-east by a grove of old oaks which rose above it in a gradual ascent of near half a mile, and yet high enough to enjoy a most charming prospect of the valley beneath.

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Nor, considered aright, does it seem any argument in favor of the gradual extinction of the Sperm Whale, for example, that in former years (the latter part of the last century, say) these Leviathans, in small pods, were encountered much oftener than at present, and, in consequence, the voyages were not so prolonged, and were also much more remunerative.

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The intimacy between her and Emma must sink; their friendship must change into a calmer sort of goodwill; and, fortunately, what ought to be, and must be, seemed already beginning, and in the most gradual, natural manner.

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The second object aimed at by the Bill was the gradual demoralization of the Circles themselves.

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It was such a gradual movement that he discovered it only through noticing that a black mark that had been near him five minutes ago was now at the other side of the circumference.

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Though a man of resolute spirit, and not easily cast down, the dangers impending over this darling scheme of his ambition, had a gradual effect upon the spirits of Mr.

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This center, formed of indefinite molecules, began to revolve around its own axis during its gradual condensation; then, following the immutable laws of mechanics, in proportion as its bulk diminished by condensation, its rotary motion became accelerated, and these two effects continuing, the result was the formation of one principal star, the center of the nebulous mass.

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But that is the beginning of a new story--the story of the gradual renewal of a man, the story of his gradual regeneration, of his passing from one world into another, of his initiation into a new unknown life.