Word
gradient
Phoneticsgra·di·ent, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɡɹeɪdiənt/
UK/ɡɹˈeɪdiənt/
Definitions
01a slope or incline
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. the degree to which a road, path, or railway line goes up or down.
n. the degree of inclination or the rate of ascent or descent of a physical slope, such as a road or railway track.
Español:gradiente
“The cyclists struggled to maintain their speed on the steep gradient of the mountain road.”
“Engineers had to carefully calculate the gradient of the new railway line to ensure the locomotives could manage the ascent during heavy rain.”
Usage
Often used with adjectives like 'steep', 'gentle', or 'slight'.
02a change in color
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Computing
n. a smooth transition where one color gradually changes into another.
n. a visual effect in which one color blends into another through a series of gradual steps or a smooth transition.
“The website background uses a blue-to-white gradient that looks like the sky.”
“The graphic designer applied a subtle radial gradient to the logo to give it a three-dimensional appearance without using complex shadows.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
03mathematical rate of change
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Mathematics Technical · Academic
n. the steepness of a line on a graph, showing how fast one thing changes compared to another.
n. the rate of change of a function with respect to its variables; specifically, the slope of a curve's tangent at a given point.
Español:gradiente
“To solve the problem, you first need to find the gradient of the curve at point X.”
“The student calculated the gradient of the graph to determine the acceleration of the particle over the specified time interval.”
Usage
In calculus, often represented by the symbol ∇ (nabla).
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“If we graphed the weights and bias points during gradient descent, the points would look like a ball rolling down a hill, finally stopping at the point where there's no more downward slope.” “The first explanation the researchers came up with was that the flies were climbing a rising gradient of odor toward the source.” “To do so, she studied butterflies along an elevational gradient in the German Alps.” “Plain gradient descent follows the local slope and nothing else, so a shallow pit on the way to a deep one is a terminal trap: at the bottom the gradient is zero and the update stops.” Etymology
From Latin gradientem, present participle of gradi ('to step, walk'). Introduced into vector calculus by British mathematician Thomas T. P. B. Brougham and popularized by Maxwell.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/gradient
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0