steep gradient
Severely angled rise
A steep gradient is a sharp incline or rate of change.
In physical terrain, it describes a hill or slope that rises rapidly over a short horizontal distance: The railway struggled with the steep gradient through the mountains.
The phrase extends to any measure that changes quickly—temperature gradients, pressure gradients, or learning curves.
Gradient alone often implies steepness, making the phrase somewhat redundant in casual use.
- inclineAngled rising surface
- slopeAngled terrain or steepness
- ski slopeMountain trail for descending
- climbAscend using effort
- descentDownward slope or lineage
ascent · mountain pass · precipice · hillside · drop · pitch · cliffside · switchback · scramble · vertiginous · black diamond · roller coaster · plunge · mountainside · escarpment · ravine · downhill · uphill
- gradientsfade, blend, smooth transition, color fade, ombre
- mountain railwaysfunicular, cog railway, cable car, gondola lift, aerial tramway
- heat transferconduction, convection, heat flow, heat transfer, conductors
steep gradientgentle slope
Gradual land elevation
level ground · flat surface · flat terrain · horizontal plane · plateau
steep, steeply, steepness, steepen, steepened, steepening, steeper, steepest, gradient