GRADUAL


Meaning of GRADUAL in English

grad ‧ u ‧ al /ˈɡrædʒuəl/ BrE AmE adjective

[ Date: 1400-1500 ; Language: Medieval Latin ; Origin: gradualis , from Latin gradus ; ⇨ ↑ grade 1 ]

1 . happening slowly over a long period of time OPP sudden :

There has been a gradual change in climate.

the gradual decline in manufacturing industry

Education is a gradual process.

2 . a gradual slope is not steep

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THESAURUS

▪ slow not moving quickly or not doing something quickly:

I was always one of the slowest runners in my class.

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My computer’s really slow compared to the ones at school.

▪ gradual happening, developing, or changing slowly over a long period of time:

a gradual rise in the Earth’s temperature

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I’ve noticed a gradual improvement in his work.

▪ leisurely especially written moving or doing something slowly, especially because you are enjoying what you are doing and do not have to hurry:

a leisurely breakfast

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They walked at a leisurely pace.

▪ unhurried especially written moving or doing something in a slow and calm way, without rushing at all:

She continued to listen, seeming relaxed and unhurried.

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the doctor’s calm unhurried manner

▪ sluggish moving or reacting more slowly than usual, especially because of a loss of power or energy. Also used when business, sales, or the economy seem very slow:

The car seems rather sluggish going uphill.

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The drink was making her sluggish.

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the company’s sluggish performance this year

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Sales have been sluggish.

▪ lethargic moving slowly, because you feel as if you have no energy and no interest in doing anything:

She woke up feeling heavy and lethargic.

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His son seemed depressed and lethargic.

▪ languid literary slow and with very little energy or activity – used about people, actions, or periods of time:

She lifted her hand in a languid wave.

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a long languid afternoon in the middle of summer

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He was pale and had rather a languid air about him.

▪ glacial literary extremely slow – used especially about the speed at which something happens:

Things are changing, but at a glacial pace.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English.      Longman - Словарь современного английского языка.