General: Degree of slope.
Physics: Change in the value of a quantity (as temperature, pressure) with
change in a given variable.
Math.: A differential → operator
(symbol → nabla,
∇) that, operating upon a function (f) of several variables, creates a
→ vector
whose coordinates are the → partial derivatives of
the function: ∇f = (∂f/∂x)i
- (∂f/∂y)j + (∂f/∂z)k.
The gradient of a → scalar function is a vector function.
Etymology (EN): From L. gradient-, gradiens, pr.p. of gradi “to walk, go,”
from grad- “walk” + -i- thematic vowel + -ent suffix of conjugation.
Etymology (PE): Ziné “ladder, steps, stair,” may be related to ciné, from
cidan “to place (something) above/upon (another similar thing);”
cf. Lori râ-zina, Yazdi râ-cina “stairs,” Nâyini orcen “stairs,
ladder;” the phoneme change -c- into -z-, as in
gozidan, gozin-/cidan, cin- both deriving from Proto-Ir. *cai-
“to heap up, gather, collect.”
