Gradation

Part of speech: noun (n.)

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. A gradual passing from one tint to another or from a darker to a lighter shade, as in painting or drawing.

5. A diatonic ascending or descending succession of chords.

Part of speech: verb (v.)

To form with gradations. [R.]