gradient /ˈɡɹeɪdiənt/noun 6adjective 4forms 1 noun6 •A slope or incline. •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. — 1950 •The ratio of the rates of change of a dependent variable and an independent variable, the slope of a curve's tangent. •The rate at which a physical quantity increases or decreases relative to change in a given variable, especially distance. •A gradual change in color; a color gradient; gradation. •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 adjective4 •Rising or descending by regular degrees of inclination. •Using the gradient to solve a problem. •Moving by steps; walking. •Adapted for walking, as the feet of certain birds. formsgradients
