gradient

Plural: gradients

Noun

• A slope or the rate of inclination.
• a graded change in the magnitude of some physical quantity or dimension
• the property possessed by a line or surface that departs from the horizontal
  • "a five-degree gradient"
• A slope or incline.
• A rate of inclination or declination of a slope.
• 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 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
• A gradual change in color; a color gradient; gradation.

Adj

• Moving by steps; walking.
• Rising or descending by regular degrees of inclination.
• Adapted for walking, as the feet of certain birds.

Examples

• the gradient line of a railroad
• The gradient of the Scrabble board’s difficulty increased significantly with that play.

Synonyms

slope, angular coefficient, grade, hill, incline, ramp