gradual en · ADJ
Pronunciation
- /ˈɡɹæd͡ʒəl/ (General-American)
- /ˈɡɹæd͡ʒuəl/ (General-American)
- /ˈɡɹadʒuəl/ yod-coalescence
- /ˈɡɹɛdʒɘl/ (New-Zealand)
- /ˈɡɹɛdʒʉɘl/ (New-Zealand)
- /ˈɡɹadjuəl/ non-yod-coalescence
- (US) audio
- /ˈɡɹadʒəl/ yod-coalescence
Etymology
From Medieval Latin graduālis, from Latin gradus (“step”), from Proto-Indo-European *gʰradʰ-, *gʰredʰ- (“to walk, go”). Cognate with Gothic 𐌲𐍂𐌹𐌸𐍃 (griþs, “step, grade”), Bavarian Gritt (“step, stride”).
Meanings
-
Proceeding or advancing by small, slow, regular steps or degrees
Creatures animate with gradual life / Of growth, sense, reason, all summed up in man.
1667, John Milton, “Book IX”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:a gradual increase of knowledge; a gradual decline
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| more gradual | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic | |
| most gradual | Degree=Sup | lexicographic | |
| graduall | alternative | lexicographic |
Antonyms
Deriveds
ungradual · gradualistic · gradualize · gradualness · gradual typing · gradualist · gradualism · nongradual · graduality · gradually
Relateds
incrementally · slow {speed) · insidious
Synonyms
stepwise · piecewise · gradual · piecemeal · incremental · slow
Translations (42)
pt gradual (proceeding by steps or small degrees) · da trinvis (proceeding by steps or small degrees) · pl stopniowy (proceeding by steps or small degrees) · eo grada (proceeding by steps or small degrees) · ga dréimreach (proceeding by steps or small degrees) · fr graduel (proceeding by steps or small degrees) · el βαθμιαίος (proceeding by steps or small degrees) · cy graddol (proceeding by steps or small degrees) · es gradual (proceeding by steps or small degrees) · mk постепен (proceeding by steps or small degrees) · ca gradual (proceeding by steps or small degrees) · fi asteittainen (proceeding by steps or small degrees) · da gradvis (proceeding by steps or small degrees) · bg постепенен (proceeding by steps or small degrees) · lt laipsniškas (proceeding by steps or small degrees) · sh pòstupan (proceeding by steps or small degrees) · nl geleidelijk (proceeding by steps or small degrees) · de graduell (proceeding by steps or small degrees) · cmn 平緩的 /平缓的 (proceeding by steps or small degrees) · eo malabrupta (proceeding by steps or small degrees) · cs stupňovitý (proceeding by steps or small degrees) · uk поступо́вий (proceeding by steps or small degrees) · sv gradvis (proceeding by steps or small degrees) · de allmählich (proceeding by steps or small degrees) · ru постепе́нный (proceeding by steps or small degrees) · fi vähittäinen (proceeding by steps or small degrees) · hu fokozatos (proceeding by steps or small degrees) · be паступо́вы (proceeding by steps or small degrees) · ru пла́вный (proceeding by steps or small degrees) · sh по̀ступан (proceeding by steps or small degrees) · ast gradual (proceeding by steps or small degrees) · de schrittweise zunehmend (proceeding by steps or small degrees) · cs postupný (proceeding by steps or small degrees) · it graduale (proceeding by steps or small degrees) · oc gradual (proceeding by steps or small degrees) · nl gestaag (proceeding by steps or small degrees) · gl gradual (proceeding by steps or small degrees) · es paulatino (proceeding by steps or small degrees) · cmn 逐漸的 /逐渐的 (proceeding by steps or small degrees) · cy cynyddol (proceeding by steps or small degrees) · el σταδιακός (proceeding by steps or small degrees) · ar تَدْرِيجِيّ (proceeding by steps or small degrees)