the act of progressing by regular steps or orderly arrangement; the state of being graded or arranged in ranks; as, the gradation of castes.-the act or process of bringing to a certain grade.-any degree or relative position in an order or series.-a gradual passing from one tint to another or from a darker to a lighter shade, as in painting or drawing.-a diatonic ascending or descending succession of chords.-to form with gradations.