Oxford Dictionary English

    gradient

    noun
    noun
    BrE BrE//ˈɡreɪdiənt//
    ; NAmE NAmE//ˈɡreɪdiənt//
    Features of roads, Railway tracks and stations
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  1. 1(also grade especially in North American English) the degree to which the ground slopes, especially on a road or railway a steep gradient a hill with a gradient of 1 in 4 (or 25%) Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivesteep, gentle, slight, … verb + gradient/​gradehave prepositionon a gradient See full entry See related entries: Features of roads, Railway tracks and stations
  2. 2(specialist) the rate at which temperature, pressure, etc. changes, or increases and decreases, between one region and another
    3.  Word Originmid 19th cent.: from grade, on the pattern of salient.Extra examples The field was on a slight gradient. The road has a fairly steep gradient. The hill has a gradient of 1 in 4 (or 25%). The line here is on a steep gradient climbing towards Merstham Tunnel.
See gradient in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic EnglishSee gradient in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary
Check pronunciation: gradient
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