"steep slope of a road or railroad," 1835, principally in American English, probably from grade (n.) by analogy of quotient, etc. [OED]. It was used 17c. as an adjective, of animals, "characterized by walking;" in that case it is probably from Latin gradientem, present participle of gradi "to walk."
权威例句
1. The car slid down the steep gradient into the river.
汽车滑下陡峭的斜坡掉入河中.
2. This indicates a hydrodynamic condition with a very marked potentiometric gradient.
这说明水动力条件具有很明显的位能梯度.
3. 4 gradient arrays marked A, B, C and D were set up.
布置了编号为A, B, C,D的四个梯度排列.
4. Examples of interactions are mass transfer caused by temperature gradient.
温度梯度所引起的质量转移是交叉作用的例子.
5. The residence gradient for lung cancer was strongest among nonsmokers.