intergradation

American  

[in-ter-grey-dey-shuhn] / ˌɪn tər greɪˈdeɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the act or process of intergrading or the state of being intergraded.

2. an evolutionary process by which different species of organisms tend to merge through a series of intermediate stages or grades.

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Other Word Forms

• intergradational adjective

Etymology

Origin of intergradation

First recorded in 1870–75; inter- + gradation

Example Sentences

In measurements, the Tamaulipan specimens agree closely with miradorensis; in color, some resemble miradorensis but others approach fuscus, possibly indicating intergradation between the two subspecies in the material at hand.

From Project Gutenberg

The small size suggests intergradation between the subspecies collinus and eremicoides.

From Project Gutenberg

This difference in color suggests intergradation at this place between C. l. microdon that ranged to the northeast, C. l. cagottis to the south, and probably with C. l. impavidus distributed to the west.

From Project Gutenberg

None of the specimens suggests intergradation in color between nivalis and longala, but some are slightly larger than specimens of the former from Veracruz.

From Project Gutenberg

The lines between these subspecies are difficult to establish because the zones of intergradation are broad.

From Project Gutenberg