gradation

/ɡreɪˈdeɪʃən/
noun
  1. A gradual change from one level, color, or state to another, often in a series of small steps.
    • The artist used a fine gradation of shading to make the drawing look realistic.
    • There is a gradation in difficulty among the exercises in this book.
    • The sunset showed a beautiful gradation of colors from orange to purple.
  2. A level or stage in a series of changes or degrees.
    • Each gradation of the test measures a different skill.
    • In music, a gradation in volume is called a crescendo or decrescendo.
    • The soil types form a gradation from sand to clay.
Antonyms
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