gradient
n. countablen. the measure of how steep a slope or a road is. You use this word to describe how much a surface goes up or down as you move along it.
n. the degree of steepness of a slope, road, or railway line. In mathematics and physics, it refers to the rate of change of one variable relative to another.
The steep gradient of the hill makes it difficult to cycle up.
Engineers had to adjust the railway's path because the natural gradient of the mountain was too steep for the trains.
The architect designed the wheelchair ramp with a gentle gradient to ensure it complied with modern accessibility standards while remaining easy to navigate.
From Latin gradiēns, present participle of gradior (“to step, to walk”).
Often used with 'steep', 'gentle', or 'slight' to describe the angle of a slope.