gradient

C2+ Topic:Cause, Change & Process

US /ˈɡreɪdiənt/ UK /ˈɡreɪdiənt/ See IPA manual

noun adj

Meanings

1

noun
a rate of inclination or change; a slope

The road climbed a steep gradient toward the mountain pass.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a rate of inclination or... slope incline grade inclination pitch ramp

Word family

Related forms grade gradation gradual gradually

Etymology

Coined in English in the 19th century from Latin gradiens, present participle of gradi ('to step, walk'), modeled on words like salient; from gradus ('step').

gradiēns Latin gradī Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Cause, Change & Process Word Formation & Derivatives

# gradient

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun, adj
**IPA (US):** ˈɡreɪdiənt
**IPA (UK):** ˈɡreɪdiənt

## Meanings
1. a rate of inclination or change; a slope

## Examples
- The road climbed a steep gradient toward the mountain pass.

## Synonyms
- slope
- incline
- grade
- inclination
- pitch
- ramp

## Related Forms
- grade
- gradation
- gradual
- gradually

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: gradiēns
- Root: gradī

## Etymology
Coined in English in the 19th century from Latin gradiens, present participle of gradi ('to step, walk'), modeled on words like salient; from gradus ('step').

## AI Etymology
Gradient was coined in English in the 19th century from Latin gradiens, present participle of gradi ('to step, walk'), modeled on words like salient; from gradus ('step'). The etymological trail includes Latin gradiēns and Latin gradī. As a noun, gradient names a rate of inclination or change; a slope. The same family is visible in related forms such as grade, gradation, gradual, and gradually.

## Topics
- Cause, Change & Process
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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gradient

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