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gradient

See Also: gradient of gravity, slope

  1. [geodesy] The ratio between vertical distance (rise) and horizontal distance (run), often expressed as a percentage. A 10-percent gradient rises 10 feet for every 100 feet of horizontal distance.
  2. [geodesy] The inclination of a surface in a given direction.
  3. [physics] The rate at which a quantity such as temperature or pressure changes in value.