slope,
n. 1a. (of a line in a coordinate system) the tangent of the angle between the direction of the line and the x-axis; in the figure below this is tanθ, that is, the ratio Dy/Dx. See also gradient.
b. (of a straight line or segment) the ratio of the rise to the run of any two distinct points on the line or segment. 2. the first derivative of the equation of a curve at a given point. This is equal to the limit of δy/ δx as δx tends to zero, the slope of the tangent to the curve at that point, and the figure below shows the equivalence of the three definitions.
b. (of a straight line or segment) the ratio of the rise to the run of any two distinct points on the line or segment. 2. the first derivative of the equation of a curve at a given point. This is equal to the limit of δy/ δx as δx tends to zero, the slope of the tangent to the curve at that point, and the figure below shows the equivalence of the three definitions.