gradient

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gradient

  • /ˈɡɹeɪdiənt/

Rhymes with -eɪdiənt

Where it comes from

From Latin gradiēns, present participle of gradior (“to step, to walk”).

noun gradients

  1. A slope or incline.
  2. A rate of inclination or declination of a slope. Just beyond that station the first step is encountered and the rack resorted to, taking the line on a gradient of 1 in 9 over a steeply inclined bridge and through a spiral tunnel.
  3. The ratio of the rates of change of a dependent variable and an independent variable, the slope of a curve's tangent.
  4. The rate at which a physical quantity increases or decreases relative to change in a given variable, especially distance.
  5. A differential operator that maps each point of a scalar field to a vector pointed in the direction of the greatest rate of change of the scalar. Notation for a scalar field φ: ∇φ
  6. A gradual change in color; a color gradient; gradation.

adjective

  1. not comparable Moving by steps; walking. movable and Gradient Automata
  2. not comparable Rising or descending by regular degrees of inclination. the gradient line of a railroad
  3. not comparable Adapted for walking, as the feet of certain birds.
  4. not comparable Using the gradient to solve a problem.

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