/gray"dee euhnt/ , n.
1. the degree of inclination, or the rate of ascent or descent, in a highway, railroad, etc.
2. an inclined surface; grade; ramp.
3. Physics.
a. the rate of change with respect to distance of a variable quantity, as temperature or pressure, in the direction of maximum change.
b. a curve representing such a rate of change.
4. Math. a differential operator that, operating upon a function of several variables, results in a vector the coordinates of which are the partial derivatives of the function. Abbr.: grad. Symbolically appearing as a downward pointing triangle.
adj.
5. rising or descending by regular degrees of inclination.
6. progressing by walking; stepping with the feet as animals do.
7. of a type suitable for walking or running, as the feet of certain birds; gressorial.
[ 1635-45; gradient- (s. of gradiens ), prp. of gradi to walk, go, equiv. to grad- walk + -i- thematic vowel + -ent- -ENT ]