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| gra·di·ent [ gráydee ənt ] |
noun (plural gra·di·ents) |
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| Definition: |
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1. slope: an upward or downward slope, e.g. in a road or railroad
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2. steepness: the rate at which the steepness of a slope increases
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3. physics measure of change: a measure of change in a physical quantity such as temperature or pressure over a particular distance
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4. biology rate of growth: a change in a series of alterations in the rate of growth or metabolism of an organism, cell, or organ
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5. mathematics slope on curve: the slope of a line or a tangent at any point on a curve
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adjective |
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| Definition: |
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sloping: sloping evenly and uniformly
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| [Mid-17th century. Partly < Latin gradient-, present participle of gradi "walk" (< gradus "step"), partly <grade after quotient] |
