gradient

Meanings

Noun

• 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.

Adjective

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

Related

Similar words

• hill, incline, ramp, slope, grade
• slope (of a line), angular coefficient

Origin

• From Latin gradiēns, present participle of gradior