gradual

名词 gradual:

1. (Roman Catholic Church) an antiphon (usually from the Book of Psalms) immediately after the epistle at Mass

形容词 gradual:

1. proceeding in small stages
2. (of a topographical gradient) not steep or abrupt

1. Here there is a gradual descent to the sea.
   这里有个通向海的缓坡。
2. I advocate a policy of gradual reform.
   我拥护逐步改革的政策。
3. A gradual, natural reduction in membership or personnel, as through retirement, resignation, or death.
   人员耗损，减缩人员指逐渐的、正常的成员或人员的减少，如退休、辞职或死亡
4. Gradual change is preferable to sudden, large- scale change.
   逐步的变化比突然的、大规模的变化更好。
5. Gradual deterioration of specific tissues, cells, or organs with corresponding impairment or loss of function, caused by injury, disease, or aging.
   变性特定的组织、细胞或器官随着受伤、疾病或年老而导致的相应的功能的削弱或丧失，而形成的逐渐的变质
6. There has been a gradual increase in the number of people owning cars.
   拥有汽车的人数一直在逐渐上升。

grad.u.al

adj.（形容词）
Advancing or progressing by regular or continuous degrees:
逐级的，逐步的：规则地或连续地发展或前进的：
例句：
gradual erosion; a gradual slope.
逐渐地腐蚀；缓坡

n.Roman Catholic Church （名词）【罗马天主教】
A book containing the choral portions of the Mass.
弥撒升阶圣歌集：包括弥撒音乐部分的祈书
A biblical text sung between the Epistle and the Gospel of the Mass.
吟唱圣经：引自《使徒书信》和《福音书》之间的用于吟唱的一段圣经短文

来源：
Middle English [having steps]
中古英语 [有步骤的]
from Medieval Latin gradu3lis
源自 中世纪拉丁语 gradu3lis
from Latin gradus [step] * see grade
源自 拉丁语 gradus [步骤] *参见 grade
N., Middle English
名词， 中古英语
from Medieval Latin gradu3le [the part of the service sung by the choir from the altar steps, gradual] [from neuter sing. of] gradu3lis [having steps]
源自 中世纪拉丁语 gradu3le [唱诗班在圣坛的台阶上唱的礼拜的一部分，逐阶的] [] 源自gradu3lis的中性单数 [有步骤的]

【引伸】
grad.ually
adv.（副词）
grad.ualness
n.（名词）