gradation

[ grey-dey-shuhn ]

noun

1. any process or change taking place through a series of stages, by degrees, or in a gradual manner.
2. a stage, degree, or grade in such a series.
3. 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.
4. the act of grading.
5. ablaut.
6. Geology. the leveling of a land surface, resulting from the concerted action of erosion and deposition.

gradation

/ ɡrəˈdeɪʃən /

noun

1. a series of systematic stages; gradual progression
2. often plural a stage or degree in such a series or progression
3. the act or process of arranging or forming in stages, grades, etc, or of progressing evenly
4. (in painting, drawing, or sculpture) transition from one colour, tone, or surface to another through a series of very slight changes
5. linguistics any change in the quality or length of a vowel within a word indicating certain distinctions, such as inflectional or tense differentiations See ablaut
6. geology the natural levelling of land as a result of the building up or wearing down of pre-existing formations

gradation

/ grā-dā′shən /

1. 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.
2. The proportion of particles (such as sand grains) of a given size within a sample of particulate material, such as soil or sandstone.

Derived Forms

• graˈdationally, adverb
• graˈdational, adjective

Other Words From

• gra·dation·al adjective
• gra·dation·al·ly adverb
• regra·dation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of gradation¹

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

Example Sentences

Take enough samples of some aspect of a visual field—its gradation of color, for example, or shifts from foreground to background—and it is possible to reconstitute the entirety of the information.

From MIT Technology Review

This affordable pick comes with fractional gradations and is easy to read.

From Popular-Science

Assefa, an Ethiopia native who lives in Baltimore, makes seemingly translucent pictures with subtle gradations of a single color.

From Washington Post

Exercise could easily exist on a continuum with infinite gradations of difficulty.

From Outside Online

Compared with many other orders, the primates were rather easy to arrange on their evolutionary tree, thanks to well-preserved fossils, as well as relatively small yet well-defined gradations between living forms.

From Nautilus

But within that group there is a great deal of gradation—much of it tied to specific timelines within pregnancy.

From The Daily Beast

Now, national possessions must be estimated by the same gradation that we have applied to individual possessions.

From Project Gutenberg

It is something of the shape of a mitre, and forms a beautiful gradation of ascent towards the summit of faade.

From Project Gutenberg

Why should we sacrifice this clear and useful gradation: unwell, very unwell, ill, very ill?

From Project Gutenberg

The merest glance at society round us shows an endless gradation of varied service.

From Project Gutenberg

You appear to imply that development and gradation in organs and functions are opposed to that conception, which they are not.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• calibration
• nuance