First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
1gradual
noun, grad·u·al often capitalized \ˈgra-jə-wəl, -jəl, ˈgraj-wəl\
Definition of GRADUAL
1
: a book containing the choral parts of the Mass
2
: a pair of verses (as from the Psalms) proper after the Epistle in the Mass
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Origin of GRADUAL
Middle English, from Medieval Latin graduale, from Latin gradus step; from its being sung on the steps of the altar
2gradual
adjective
: moving or changing in small amounts : happening in a slow way over a long period of time
: not steep
Full Definition of GRADUAL
1
: proceeding by steps or degrees
2
: moving, changing, or developing by fine or often imperceptible degrees
— grad·u·al·ly adverb
— grad·u·al·ness noun
See gradual defined for English-language learners
See gradual defined for kids
Origin of GRADUAL
Medieval Latin gradualis, from Latin gradus
First Known Use: 1658
Related to GRADUAL
- Synonyms
- gradational, incremental, phased, piecemeal, step-by-step
GRADUALNESS Defined for Kids
gradual
adjective grad·u·al \ˈgra-jə-wəl\
Definition of GRADUAL for Kids
: moving or happening by steps or degrees <We watched the gradual approach of the train.>
— grad·u·al·ly adverb <Rain gradually ended.>
Word Root of GRADUAL
The Latin word gradus, meaning “step” or “degree,” gives us the root grad. Words from the Latin gradus have something to do with steps. Anything gradual happens slowly one step at a time. To degrade is to reduce from a higher to a lower degree. A grade is a step in school made up of one year of work. Even the word degree itself has gradus as its root.
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