gradation
/ɡɹəˈdeɪʃən/ noun, verb
Forms gradations gradationing gradationed
- noun A sequence of gradual, successive stages; a systematic progression.
- noun A passing by small degrees from one tone or shade, as of color, to another.
- noun The act of gradating or arranging in grades.
- noun Any degree or relative position in an order or series.
- noun (countable) A calibration marking.
- noun (music) A gradual change within one parameter, or an overlapping of two blocks of sound.
- noun (music) A diatonic succession of chords.
- noun (phonetics) Ablaut.
- verb (transitive) To form with gradations.
Synonyms
Etymology
Borrowed from French gradation. By surface analysis, grade + -ation.
Webster’s 1913
- noun The act of progressing by regular steps or orderly arrangement; the state of being graded or arranged in ranks; as, the gradation of castes.
- noun The act or process of bringing to a certain grade.
- verb To form with gradations. [R.]
Etymology [L. gradatio: cf. F. gradation. See Grade.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “gradation”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details