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Definition of gradient noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

gradient

noun
 
/ˈɡreɪdiənt/
 
/ˈɡreɪdiənt/
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  1. (also grade especially in North American English)
     a slope on a road or railway; the degree to which the ground slopes
    • The route includes some steep gradients.
    • a hill with a gradient of 1 in 4 (or 25 per cent)
    Extra Examples
    • The road has a fairly steep gradient.
    • The field was on a slight gradient.
    • The hill has a gradient of 1 in 4 (or 25%).
    • The line here is on a steep gradient climbing towards Merstham Tunnel.
    Topics Transport by bus and trainc1, Transport by car or lorryc1, Geographyc1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • steep
    • gentle
    • slight
    • …
    verb + gradient/​grade
    • have
    preposition
    • on a gradient
    See full entry
  2. (specialist) the rate at which temperature, pressure, etc. changes, or increases and decreases, between one region and anotherTopics Maths and measurementc2
    3. Word Originmid 19th cent.: from grade, on the pattern of salient.
See gradient in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee gradient in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: gradient

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dizzy
adjective
 
 
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