gradient
Dictionary
noun
- A slope or incline.
- A rate of inclination or declination of a slope.
- 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 equivalently, the inclination to the X axis of the tangent to the curve of the graph.
- 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.
"gradient automata"
- Rising or descending by regular degrees of inclination.
"the gradient line of a railroad"
- Adapted for walking, as the feet of certain birds.
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