Lexic.us

Definition of Gradient

1. Noun. A graded change in the magnitude of some physical quantity or dimension.

2. Noun. The property possessed by a line or surface that departs from the horizontal. "A five-degree gradient"

Definition of Gradient

1. a. Moving by steps; walking; as, gradient automata.

2. n. The rate of regular or graded ascent or descent in a road; grade.

Definition of Gradient

1. Noun. A slope or incline. ¹

2. Noun. A rate of inclination or declination of a slope. ¹

3. Noun. (calculus) Of a function ''y'' = ''f''(''x'') or the graph of such a function, the rate of change of ''y'' with respect to ''x'', that is, the amount by which ''y'' changes for a certain (often unit) change in ''x''. ¹

4. Noun. (physics) The rate at which a physical quantity increases or decreases relative to change in a given variable, especially distance. ¹

5. Noun. (vector) A vector operator that maps each value of a scalar field to a vector equal to the greatest rate of change of the scalar. Notation for a scalar field ?: $\backslash nabla$? ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Gradient

1. a rate of inclination [n -S]

Medical Definition of Gradient

1. Mathematical term for the operator which determines the magnitude and direction of the greatest rate-of-change of a given function with position. Similarly used to describe such a rate-of-change. For instance, at a given point on a hill, the slope of the hill in the steepest uphill direction is the gradient of the altitude function for the hill. (09 Oct 1997)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Gradient

grade separation graded gradeless gradelier gradeliest gradely grader graders grades gradewide

gradgrind gradgrinds gradian gradians gradience gradient (current term) gradient elution gradient encoding gradient perception gradient wind

gradientless gradients gradin gradine gradines grading gradini gradino gradins gradiometer

Literary usage of Gradient

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Physiography by Rollin D. Salisbury (1919)
"gradient, velocity, and directions of wind.. The slope of an isobaric surface is its gradient. gradient is differently expressed in different countries. ..."

2. Physics of the Air by William Jackson Humphreys (1920)
"The actual gradient, radius of curvature, density, and latitude usually will all differ somewhat from the tabulated values, but as the latter, ..."

3. Biological Bulletin by Marine Biological Laboratory (Woods Hole, Mass.) (1911)
"If an axial gradient in rate of metabolic reactions is the basis of organic polarity or is in any way associated with it we must expect to find such a ..."

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