gradation

[ grey-dey-shuh n ]

/ greɪˈdeɪ ʃən /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR gradation ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

any process or change taking place through a series of stages, by degrees, or in a gradual manner.

a stage, degree, or grade in such a series.

the passing of one tint or shade of color to another, or one surface to another, by very small degrees, as in painting or sculpture.

the act of grading.

ablaut.

Geology. the leveling of a land surface, resulting from the concerted action of erosion and deposition.

Nearby words

grad., gradability, gradable, gradate, gradatim, gradation, grade, grade cricket, grade crossing, grade i astrocytoma, grade ii astrocytoma

Origin of gradation

First recorded in 1530–40, gradation is from the Latin word gradātiōn- (stem of gradātiō). See grade, -ation

Related forms

gra·da·tion·al, adjectivegra·da·tion·al·ly, adverbre·gra·da·tion, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for gradation

But within that group there is a great deal of gradation—much of it tied to specific timelines within pregnancy.
How Wendy Davis Became America’s Conscience on Abortion|Keli Goff|February 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The gradation and modulation of the blue, indeed, even the quality of the blue itself, are all better in the later pieces.
Chats on Oriental China|J. F. Blacker
Gradation can and must also be observed in the study of the semantic aspect of a language.
The Principles of Language-Study|Harold E. Palmer
Of all the nations of Europe, I know of none, save Italy, in which the characters are the same in every class and gradation.
Cornelius O'Dowd Upon Men And Women And Other Things In General|Charles Lever

Sometimes in the last-named genus, as also in Pteridophyllum, every gradation between simple and compound leaves may be traced.
Vegetable Teratology|Maxwell T. Masters
But harmony and gradation of colour always give me more pleasure than contrast.
Mary's Meadow|Juliana Horatia Ewing

British Dictionary definitions for gradation

gradation

/ (ɡrəˈdeɪʃən) /

noun

a series of systematic stages; gradual progression

(often plural) a stage or degree in such a series or progression

the act or process of arranging or forming in stages, grades, etc, or of progressing evenly

(in painting, drawing, or sculpture) transition from one colour, tone, or surface to another through a series of very slight changes

linguistics any change in the quality or length of a vowel within a word indicating certain distinctions, such as inflectional or tense differentiationsSee ablaut

geology the natural levelling of land as a result of the building up or wearing down of pre-existing formations

Derived Forms

gradational, adjectivegradationally, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Science definitions for gradation

gradation

[ grā-dā′shən ]

The process by which land is leveled off through erosion or the transportation or deposition of sediments, especially the process by which a riverbed is brought to a level where it is just able to transport the amount of sediment delivered to it.

The proportion of particles (such as sand grains) of a given size within a sample of particulate material, such as soil or sandstone.