gradient

A gradient is an area or object that gradually changes from one quality or state to another. You can see gradients in nature, like how the sky goes from bright blue to soft pink during sunset.

Gradients are often used in science and everyday life to describe changes between things. In photography, a gradient refers to an image where colors fade from dark to light. For example, if you take a picture of a beautiful beach with a clear sky and water, the photographer might adjust the settings so that the sky gets darker towards the top and lighter at the bottom – this is called a gradient. In geography, a gradient can refer to a change in elevation or climate over a certain area. You might hear someone say "the temperature gradient from the city center to the outskirts is quite dramatic" meaning that it gets hotter as you move outwards.