GRADUAL
Dictionary entry overview: What does gradual mean?
• GRADUAL (noun)
The noun GRADUAL has 1 sense:
1. (Roman Catholic Church) an antiphon (usually from the Book of Psalms) immediately after the epistle at Mass
Familiarity information: GRADUAL used as a noun is very rare.
• GRADUAL (adjective)
The adjective GRADUAL has 2 senses:
1. proceeding in small stages
2. (of a topographical gradient) not steep or abrupt
Familiarity information: GRADUAL used as an adjective is rare.
Dictionary entry details
• GRADUAL (noun)
Meaning:
(Roman Catholic Church) an antiphon (usually from the Book of Psalms) immediately after the epistle at Mass
Classified under:
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents
Hypernyms ("gradual" is a kind of...):
antiphon; antiphony (a verse or song to be chanted or sung in response)
Domain category:
Church of Rome; Roman Catholic; Roman Catholic Church; Roman Church; Western Church (the Christian Church based in the Vatican and presided over by a pope and an episcopal hierarchy)
• GRADUAL (adjective)
Meaning:
Proceeding in small stages
Context example:
a gradual increase in prices
Similar:
bit-by-bit; in small stages; piecemeal; step-by-step; stepwise (one thing at a time)
gradational; gradatory; graduated (taking place by degrees)
Also:
slow (not moving quickly; taking a comparatively long time)
Antonym:
sudden (happening without warning or in a short space of time)
Meaning:
(of a topographical gradient) not steep or abrupt
Context example:
a gradual slope
Similar:
easy; gentle (marked by moderate steepness)
sloping (having a slanting form or direction)
Also:
inclined (at an angle to the horizontal or vertical position)
Antonym:
steep (having a sharp inclination)
