gradualism
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Related to gradualism: Phyletic gradualism
grad·u·al·ism
(grăj′o͞o-ə-lĭz′əm)n.
1. The belief in or the policy of advancing toward a goal by gradual, often slow stages.
2. Biology The view that evolution proceeds by imperceptibly small, cumulative steps over long periods of time rather than by abrupt, major changes.
grad′u·al·ist n.
grad′u·al·is′tic adj.
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.
gradualism
(ˈɡrædjʊəˌlɪzəm)n
1. the policy of seeking to change something or achieve a goal gradually rather than quickly or violently, esp in politics
2. (Geological Science) the theory that explains major changes in rock strata, fossils, etc in terms of gradual evolutionary processes rather than sudden violent catastrophes. Compare catastrophism
ˈgradualist n, adj
ˌgradualˈistic adj
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
grad•u•al•ism
(ˈgrædʒ u əˌlɪz əm)n.
1. the principle or policy of achieving some goal by gradual steps rather than by drastic change.
2. a tenet of geology or evolutionary theory maintaining that change takes place gradually and continuously over long periods of geological time.
[1825–35]
grad′u•al•ist, n., adj.
grad`u•al•is′tic, adj.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
grad·u·al·ism
(grăj′o͞o-ə-lĭz′əm) The theory that new species evolve from existing species through gradual, often imperceptible changes rather than through abrupt, major changes. The small changes are believed to result in perceptible changes over long periods of time. Compare punctuated equilibrium.
The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
gradualism
a theory maintaining that two seemingly conflicting notions are not radically opposed, but are part of a gradually altering continuity. — gradualist, n., adj. — gradualistic, adj.
See also: Philosophythe principle or policy of achieving a goal, as political or economic, by gradual steps rather than by sudden and drastic innovation. Cf. conservatism, radicalism. — gradualist, n., adj. — gradualistic, adj.
See also: Politics-Ologies & -Isms. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
Translations
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