Definition of gradient
1a : the rate of regular or graded (see 2grade transitive 2) ascent or descent : inclinationb : a part sloping upward or downward
2 : change in the value of a quantity (such as temperature, pressure, or concentration) with change in a given variable and especially per unit distance in a specified direction
3 : the vector sum of the partial derivatives with respect to the three coordinate variables x, y, and z of a scalar quantity whose value varies from point to point
4 : a graded difference in physiological activity along an axis (as of the body or an embryonic field)
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Examples of gradient in a Sentence
the path goes up at a pretty steep gradient before leveling off
Recent Examples of gradient from the Web
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Strong wind is an occasional, lethal rite of spring in Moscow, brought by extreme temperature gradients on the Eurasian plain during changes in season.
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The selection of lenses are polarizing and polarizing gradient lenses, and 1.60 photochromic polarizing lenses.
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Dipping it in patent leather and digital gradients is like dumping a two-liter of Mountain Dew Code Red on a Mark Rothko painting.
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Age and income gradients were also clearly visible in the vote tabulations.
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Clearly, there are gradients of effectiveness in the drug court’s proceedings.
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Inside, a circular display stretched nearly to the ceiling, catching the light of a gradient illumination that changed colors like the rising and setting sun.
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Other great ideas include cross-browser support for gradients and shadows, layer blending and styles a la Photoshop, more consistent syntax for writing declarations in shorthand and native support for conditionals.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'gradient'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Did You Know?
Any slope can be called a gradient. In the interstate highway system, the maximum gradient is 6 percent; in other words, the highway may never ascend more than 6 vertical feet over a distance of 100 feet. Any rate of change that's shown on a graph may have a sloped gradient. Suppose the graph's horizontal axis shows the passage of time and its vertical axis shows some activity; if the activity is happening very fast, then the gradient of the line on the graph will be steep, but if it's slow the gradient will be gentle, or gradual.
Origin and Etymology of gradient
Latin gradient-, gradiens, present participle of gradi
First Known Use: 1835
Other Physics Terms
GRADIENT Defined for English Language Learners
gradient
playDefinition of gradient for English Language Learners
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: a place where the ground slopes up or down
Medical Dictionary
gradient
playMedical Definition of gradient
1: change in the value of a quantity (as temperature, pressure, or concentration) with change in a given variable and especially per unit on a linear scale
2: a graded difference in physiological activity along an axis (as of the body or an embryonic field)
3 usually gradient of effect : change in response with distance from the stimulus
Learn More about gradient
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See words that rhyme with gradient Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for gradient Spanish Central: Translation of gradient Nglish: Translation of gradient for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of gradient for Arabic speakers
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