Gra"di*ent, n. 1. The rate of regular or graded ascent or descent in a
road; grade.
2. A part of a road which slopes upward or downward; a portion of a way
not level; a grade.
3. The rate of increase or decrease of a variable magnitude, or the
curve which represents it; as, a thermometric gradient.
Gradient post, a post or stake indicating by its height or by marks on
it the grade of a railroad, highway, or embankment, etc., at that spot.
{ ||Gra"din (?), Gra*dine" (?),} n. [F. gradin, dim. of grade. See
Grade.] (Arch.) Any member like a step, as the raised back of an altar
or the like; a set raised over another. "The gradines of the
amphitheeater." Layard.
Gra*dine" (?), n. [F. gradine.] A toothed chised by sculptors.
Grad"ing (?), n. The act or method of arranging in or by grade, or of
bringing, as the surface of land or a road, to the desired level or
grade.
||Gra*di"no (?), n.; pl. Gradinos (#). [It.] (Arch.) A step or raised
||shelf, as above a sideboard or altar. Cf. Superaltar, and Gradin.
Grad"u*al" (?); a. [Cf; F. graduel. See Grade, and cf. Gradual, n.]
Proceeding by steps or degrees; advancing, step by step, as in ascent
or descent or from one state to another; regularly progressive; slow;
as, a gradual increase of knowledge; a gradual decline.
Creatures animate with gradual life Of growth, sense, reason, all
summed up in man.
Milton.
Grad"u*al, n. [LL. graduale a gradual (in sense 1), fr. L. gradus step:
cf. F. graduel. See Grade, and cf. Grail a gradual.] 1. (R. C. Ch.) (a)
An antiphon or responsory after the epistle, in the Mass, which was
sung on the steps, or while the deacon ascended the steps. (b) A
service book containing the musical portions of the Mass.