Meaning

• A slope or incline.

• A rate of inclination or declination of a slope.

• Of a function y = f(x) or the graph of such a function, the rate of change of y with respect to x that is, the amount by which y changes for a certain (often unit) change in x equivalently, the inclination to the X axis of the tangent to the curve of the graph.

• The rate at which a physical quantity increases or decreases relative to change in a given variable, especially distance.

• A differential operator that maps each point of a scalar field to a vector pointed in the direction of the greatest rate of change of the scalar. Notation for a scalar field φ: ∇φ

• A gradual change in color. A color gradient; gradation.

Meaning

• Moving by steps; walking.

  "gradient automata"

• Rising or descending by regular degrees of inclination.

  "the gradient line of a railroad"

• Adapted for walking, as the feet of certain birds.