12 definitions found for gradual

Gradual GRAD'UAL,a. Proceeding by steps or degrees; advancing step by step; passing from one step to another; regular and slow; as a gradual increase of knowledge; a gradual increase of light in the morning is favorable to the eyes.
1. Proceeding by degrees in a descending line or progress; as a gradual decline.

gradual adj 1: proceeding in small stages; "a gradual increase in prices" [ant: sudden] 2: (of a topographical gradient) not steep or abrupt; "a gradual slope" [ant: steep] n 1: (Roman Catholic Church) an antiphon (usually from the Book of Psalms) immediately after the epistle at Mass

gradual gradaul

gradual I. noun Usage: often capitalized Etymology: Middle English, from Medieval Latin graduale, from Latin gradus step; from its being sung on the steps of the altar Date: 15th century 1. a book containing the choral parts of the Mass 2. a pair of verses (as from the Psalms) proper after the Epistle in the Mass II. adjective Etymology: Medieval Latin gradualis, from Latin gradus Date: 1658 1. proceeding by steps or degrees 2. moving, changing, or developing by fine or often imperceptible degrees • gradually adverb • gradualness noun

gradual
adj. & n.
--adj.
1 taking place or progressing slowly or by degrees.
2 not rapid or steep or abrupt.
--n. Eccl.
1 a response sung or recited between the Epistle and Gospel in the Mass.
2 a book of music for the sung Mass service.
Derivatives:
gradually adv. gradualness n.
Etymology: med.L gradualis, -ale f. L gradus step, the noun referring to the altar-steps on which the response is sung

gradual A gradual change or process occurs in small stages over a long period of time, rather than suddenly. Losing weight is a slow, gradual process... You can expect her progress at school to be gradual rather than brilliant. ADJ

gradual ˈɡrædjuəl adj. & n. --adj. 1 taking place or progressing slowly or by degrees. 2 not rapid or steep or abrupt. --n. Eccl. 1 a response sung or recited between the Epistle and Gospel in the Mass. 2 a book of music for the sung Mass service. øøgradually adv. gradualness n. [med.L gradualis, -ale f. L gradus step, the noun referring to the altar-steps on which the response is sung]

Gradual 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. 2. A series of steps. [Obs.] --Dryden.

Gradual 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.

gradual a. 1. Regular (step by step), progressive. 2. Slow, approximative, by degrees.

gradual ˈɡrædjuəl adj. easy, gentle, even, moderate, slow, piecemeal, inchmeal, regular, steady: There is a gradual slope down to the garden wall. The acceleration was gradual. He became aware of a gradual erosion of his authority.

68 Moby Thesaurus words for "gradual": ambling, cautious, circumspect, claudicant, crawling, creeping, creeping like snail, deliberate, dilatory, easy, even, faltering, flagging, foot-dragging, gentle, halting, hobbled, hobbling, idle, inchmeal, indolent, lagging, languid, languorous, lazy, leisurely, limping, lumbering, moderate, piecemeal, poking, poky, regular, relaxed, reluctant, sauntering, shuffling, slack, slothful, slow, slow as death, slow as molasses, slow as slow, slow-crawling, slow-foot, slow-going, slow-legged, slow-moving, slow-paced, slow-poky, slow-running, slow-sailing, slow-stepped, sluggish, snail-paced, snaillike, staggering, steady, step-by-step, strolling, tentative, toddling, tortoiselike, tottering, trudging, turtlelike, unhurried, waddling