Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Gradation
1. 
The act of progressing by regular steps or orderly arrangement; the state of being graded or arranged in ranks; 
as, the gradation of castes
. 2. 
The act or process of bringing to a certain grade. 
3. 
Any degree or relative position in an order or series. 
The several 
gradations 
of the intelligent universe. I. Taylor.
4. 
(Fine Arts) 
A gradual passing from one tint to another or from a darker to a lighter shade, as in painting or drawing. 
6. 
(Mus.) 
A diatonic ascending or descending succession of chords. 
 Gra-da′tion
,Verb.
 T.
 To form with gradations. 
[R.] 
Webster 1828 Edition
Gradation
GRADA'TION
,Noun.
  1.
  A series of ascending steps or degrees, or a proceeding step by step; hence,progress from one degree or state to another; a regular advance from step to step.  We observe a gradation in the progress of society from a rude to civilized life. Men may arrive by several gradations to the most horrid impiety.2.
  A degree in any order or series; we observe a gradation in the scale of being, from brute to mane, from man to angels.3.
  Order; series; regular process by degrees or steps; as a gradation in argument or description.Definition 2025
gradation
gradation
English
Noun
gradation (plural gradations)
- A sequence of gradual, successive stages; a systematic progression.
 - A passing by small degrees from one tone or shade, as of color, to another. See Synonyms at nuance.
 - The act of gradating or arranging in grades.
 -  Any degree or relative position in an order or series.
-  I. Taylor
- the several gradations of the intelligent universe
 
 
 -  I. Taylor
 - (countable) A calibration marking.
 - (music) A gradual change within one parameter, or an overlapping of two blocks of sound.
 - (phonetics) Apophony.
 
Translations
a sequence of gradual, successive stages; a systematic progression
a passing by small degrees from one tone or shade, as of color, to another
the act of gradating or arranging in grades
  | 
a calibration marking
  | 
in music: A gradual change within one parameter, or an overlapping of two blocks of sound
apophony — see apophony
See also
References
- DeLone et. al. (Eds.) (1975). Aspects of Twentieth-Century Music. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall. ISBN 0130493465.
 
Verb
gradation (third-person singular simple present gradations, present participle gradationing, simple past and past participle gradationed)
- (transitive) To form with gradations.