GRADUAL as NOUN

1. Meaning
   • (Roman Catholic Church) an antiphon (usually from the Book of Psalms) immediately after the epistle at Mass
   
   Hypernyms(s) gradual is a kind of… Example: animal is a hypernym of mammal, plant is a hypernym of flower
   • antiphon (what does antiphon mean?)
   • antiphony (what does antiphony mean?)

GRADUAL as ADJECTIVE

1. Meaning
   • proceeding in small stages
   
   Usage Example(s)
   • a gradual increase in prices
   
   Antonym(s)
   • sudden (what does sudden mean?)
   
   Similar To
   • bit-by-bit (what does bit-by-bit mean?)
   • in small stages (what does in small stages mean?)
   • piecemeal (what does piecemeal mean?)
   • step-by-step (what does step-by-step mean?)
   • stepwise (what does stepwise mean?)
   • gradational (what does gradational mean?)
   • gradatory (what does gradatory mean?)
   • graduated (what does graduated mean?)
   
   See Also
   • slow (what does slow mean?)
2. Meaning
   • of a topographical gradient
   • not steep or abrupt
   
   Usage Example(s)
   • a gradual slope
   
   Antonym(s)
   • steep (what does steep mean?)
   
   Similar To
   • easy (what does easy mean?)
   • gentle (what does gentle mean?)
   • sloping (what does sloping mean?)
   
   See Also
   • inclined (what does inclined mean?)