| 释义 |
gra·da·tion
\grādāshən also grəˈ-\ noun
(-s)
Etymology: Latin gradation-, gradatio, from gradus step, degree + -ation-, -atio -ation — more at grade
1. obsolete : climax 1
2.
a. : a series of things (as events or conditions) forming successive stages or steps (as in a course or action)
b. : a degree or relative position in an order or series : one of a series of intermediate varieties differing consecutively in form, character, or composition
< endless gradations in the balance between the denotation of words and their connotation — J.L.Lowes >
< he grew into the scheme of things by insensible gradations — H.G.Wells >
< through every gradation of increasing tenderness — Jane Austen >
c. obsolete : rank, position
d. : the act or process of arranging in ranks, degrees, stages, or steps or the state of being so arranged
e. : a differing consecutively and often by minute differences in a way to form ranks, degrees, stages, or steps
< the wide range of gradation in these qualities — R.W.Murray >
3. : the act or process of progressing evenly or by regular steps : gradual advance
< the idea of progress or gradation from mineral to plant, from plant to animal, and from animal to man — Times Literary Supplement >
4.
a. : a gradual passing from one tint or shade to another (as in painting or drawing) or a sequence or range of tints or shades that passes in this way
< a sequence of grays from black to white would be a gradation — S.C.Pepper >
b. : the range of tones between the darkest and the lightest parts of a photographic image
c. : the rate at which the tones of a photographic image change with exposure
5.
a. : change from one vowel to another accompanying a change in the degree of stress (as from the vowel of ford to the second vowel in Oxford)
b. : ablaut
6. : a bringing of an area of land to a uniform or nearly uniform low grade or slope (as in the formation of plains by streams) — compare aggradation, degradation
7. : the frequency distribution of various sized grains in a soil, sediment, sedimentary rock, or other particulate material
• gra·da·tion·al \(ˈ)grā|dāshənəl, grəˈd-, -shnəl\ adjective
• gra·da·tion·al·ly \-nəlē, -nəlē, -li\ adverb |