gradient

gradient definition - medical

gra·di·ent (grāˈdē-ənt)

noun
  1. The rate at which a physical quantity, such as temperature or pressure, changes relative to change in a given variable, especially distance.
  2. A series of progressively increasing or decreasing differences in the growth rate, metabolism, or physiological activity of a cell, an organ, or an organism.

The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.