gradient

noun

gra·di·ent | \ ˈgrā-dē-ənt

Definition of gradient

1a : the rate of regular or graded (see grade entry 2 sense transitive 2) ascent or descent : inclination

b : 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)

Synonyms Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about gradient

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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.

Examples of gradient in a Sentence

the path goes up at a pretty steep gradient before leveling off

Recent Examples on the Web

This allows the artist to play with various different effects, such as generating unusual color gradients. — Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, "Study: modern masters like Jackson Pollock were “intuitive physicists”," 26 Dec. 2018 Yes, the color gradients on the glass versions are fun to look at, but the leather P20 Pro is much nicer to hold and use. — Vlad Savov, The Verge, "Huawei adds new colors to the P20 Pro plus leather back options for China," 1 Sep. 2018 The next year will also see a battle to determine exactly how many cameras make a phone most appealing, while the current trend of adding gradients and iridescence under the rear glass is likely to escalate to new heights of expressiveness. — Vlad Savov, The Verge, "2018 was a weird notch year — what’s next?," 18 Dec. 2018 In one particularly striking shot, her eyes were dusted in a gradient of sunset shades that included a pop of orange on her brow bone and under her lids, a swipe of shocking pink on her crease, and a fleck of highlight in her inner corners. — Zoë Weiner, Teen Vogue, "Cardi B Was Named Star of the Year by “People en Español”," 30 Oct. 2018 What people need to understand is that black people, multiracial or otherwise, come in a gradient of shades and tones. — Yaminah Mayo, Glamour, "Khloé Kardashian Shouldn't Have to 'Block Out' Racist Remarks About True," 20 Sep. 2018 And as the difference in temperatures between the Arctic and the equator diminishes, so could the pressure gradient that drives large scale air currents like the jet stream. — Rachel Becker, The Verge, "Hurricanes stalling like Florence over the Carolinas may get even more common," 15 Sep. 2018 Most of them, especially in the West, ooze outward in a gradient, urban to suburban to exurban to rural to wild. — Adam Rogers, WIRED, "Please Stop Building Houses Exactly Where Wildfires Start," 13 Mar. 2018 Tropical cyclones are largely carried along by atmospheric circulation — and that has been slowing down, as the temperature gradient between the poles and the tropics begins to shrink (because the poles are warming faster than the tropics are). — Amina Khan, latimes.com, "Hurricanes and typhoons are slowing down, which means more time to do damage," 6 June 2018

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.

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Last Updated

28 Jan 2019

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Time Traveler for gradient

The first known use of gradient was in 1835

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More Definitions for gradient

gradient

noun

English Language Learners Definition of gradient

: a place where the ground slopes up or down

See the full definition for gradient in the English Language Learners Dictionary

gradient

noun

gra·di·ent | \ ˈgrād-ē-ənt

Medical 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