gradient
Change across distance
A gradient is a rate of change across distance or space.
In mathematics and physics, it measures how steeply something rises or falls—a road's gradient indicates its slope.
Temperature gradients show how heat varies across a surface.
In design, a gradient is a gradual transition between colors: The sky faded in a gradient from orange to purple.
In machine learning, gradient descent is an optimization technique that adjusts parameters by following the steepest path toward minimum error.
Angled rising surface
- declineDecrease or refuse
- ascentUpward movement
- descentDownward slope or lineage
- pitchFrequency of sound
steepness · angle · tilt · ramp · elevation · rise · drop · hill
Angled terrain or steepness
- derivativeFunction's rate of change
- rateMeasured speed or charge
- vectorQuantity with direction
- descentDownward slope or lineage
function · calculus · optimization · tangent · curve · delta · differential · contour
Color's specific character
- spectrumContinuous range of values
- blendCombine into mixture
- fadeLose intensity gradually
- ombreGraduated color effect
tint · shade · saturation · transition · wash · vibrancy · chromatic · pastel
Sustained single-minded attention
- flowUnbroken forward movement
- osmosisSolvent crossing semipermeable barrier
- pressureForce upon contact
- densityMass-to-volume ratio
temperature · membrane · equilibrium · dispersion · permeation · transfer · flux · molecular
Attention, stake, or fee
compounding · inflation · percentage · annual · adjustable · fixed · variable · mortgage
incline
Angled rising surface
pitch · steepness · angle · tilt · ramp · elevation · rise · drop · hill · slant
slope
Angled terrain or steepness
- derivativeFunction's rate of change
- rateMeasured speed or charge
- vectorQuantity with direction
descent · function · calculus · optimization · tangent · curve · delta · differential · contour · partial
hue
Color's specific character
ombre · tint · shade · saturation · transition · wash · vibrancy · chromatic · pastel · monochrome
concentration
Sustained single-minded attention
- flowUnbroken forward movement
- osmosisSolvent crossing semipermeable barrier
- pressureForce upon contact
density · temperature · membrane · equilibrium · dispersion · permeation · transfer · flux · molecular · thermal
interest
Attention, stake, or fee
growth · compounding · inflation · percentage · annual · adjustable · fixed · variable · mortgage · bond
fade
Lose intensity gradually
- blendCombine into mixture
- shiftMovement or work period
- interpolationEstimating between known values
smoothing · morphing · continuum · feathering · falloff · easing · ramping · tapering · softening
- colorred, blue, green, yellow, orange
- designdesign principles, functionality, emphasis, unity, graphic design
- graphicsvector, shapes, 3D graphics, raster, symbols
- patternspattern, chevron, geometric pattern, stripes, plaid
- color termsblack, white, red, blue, green
- visual effectsCGI, animation, green screen, bloom, motion capture
gradientdecline
Decrease or refuse
descent · downgrade · declivity · declination · downslope
gradientstep change
Sudden major shift
discontinuity · abrupt transition · step function · quantum leap · cliff edge
- chemical gradientsVarying substance levels across space
- color gradientsProgressive hue transitions
- gradient lensesEyewear with fading tint
- steep gradientExtreme angle of ascent
- vanishing gradientGradients approach zero through layers
- concentration gradientDifference in solute density