Meaning & use
gradient
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Meanings
nouncountable
How steeply a road, path, or surface rises or falls.
Grammar: Often described by a figure: a steep gradient.
Patterns
- a gradient of something
The road has a steep gradient near the top.
Cyclists struggled on the gradient of ten percent.
A gentle gradient makes the path easy for strollers.
nouncountable
A smooth, gradual change from one color or shade to another.
Grammar: Common in design and art: a color gradient.
Patterns
- a gradient from something to something
The poster has a gradient from deep blue to pale pink.
She painted the sunset sky using a smooth gradient.
The website background fades in a soft gradient.
nouncountabletechnicalphysics
A gradual change in a measurable quantity, such as heat or concentration, from one place to another.
Grammar: Technical: temperature gradient.
Patterns
- a gradient in something
The temperature gradient between the surface and the deep sea drives currents.
A concentration gradient moves molecules across the membrane.
The pressure gradient strengthens the wind.
nouncountablemathematics
In mathematics, a measure of how fast a function or line changes, such as the slope of a line.
Grammar: In British English, the slope of a line is often called the gradient.
Patterns
- the gradient of something
Find the gradient of the line between the two points.
A steeper line has a larger gradient.
The graph's gradient is negative here.
Word forms
| plural | gradients |
|---|
Common combinations
- steep gradient
- The railway climbs a steep gradient.
- gentle gradient
- A gentle gradient led to the lake.
- color gradient
- A color gradient fills the logo.
- temperature gradient
- A temperature gradient formed in the tank.
- gradient of the line
- Calculate the gradient of the line.
Synonyms and how they differ
- slope
- Slope is the everyday word for an incline, while gradient is more precise and measured.
- incline
- Incline names the sloping surface itself, while gradient names its steepness.
- grade
- Grade is the American word for the steepness of a road, and gradient is more British.
- fade
- Fade names the gradual loss of color, while gradient names a controlled transition between two shades.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: gradient or grade?
gradient vs grade
Grade also means a school mark or level, so gradient is the more precise word for steepness.
Practice
The design team chose a smooth ____ from orange to red for the banner.
Choose one answer.
A gradient is a smooth shift between colors. Gradual is an adjective and would not take the preposition from in this noun position.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “gradient”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.