- (also grade especially in North American English)
a slope on a road or railway; the degree to which the ground slopes （尤指公路或铁路的）坡度，斜率，倾斜度 The route includes some steep gradients. 这条路线有一些陡峭的斜坡。 a hill with a gradient of 1 in 4 (or 25 per cent) 倾斜度为 1:4（或 25%）的小山
Extra ExamplesTopics Transport by bus and trainc1, Transport by car or lorryc1, Geographyc1The road has a fairly steep gradient. 这条路坡度相当大。 The field was on a slight gradient. 场地在一个缓坡上。 The hill has a gradient of 1 in 4 (or 25%). 这个山坡的倾斜度是1:4，即25%。 The line here is on a steep gradient climbing towards Merstham Tunnel. 这段铁路线要爬个陡坡才能到达默斯瑟姆隧道。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- steep
- gentle
- slight
- …
- have
- on a gradient
- (specialist)
the rate at which temperature, pressure, etc. changes, or increases and decreases, between one region and another （温度、压力等的）变化率，梯度变化曲线
Word Originmid 19th cent.: from grade, on the pattern of salient.