shading vs graduation

shading and graduation both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
shading	Yes	No	No	No
graduation	Yes	No	No	No

As nouns, graduation is a hypernym of shading; that is, graduation is a word with a broader meaning than shading:

shading: a gradation involving small or imperceptible differences between grades
graduation: the act of arranging in grades

Other hypernyms of shading include gradation.

shading (noun)	graduation (noun)
a gradation involving small or imperceptible differences between grades	the act of arranging in grades
graded markings that indicate light or shaded areas in a drawing or painting	the successful completion of a program of study
	a line (as on a vessel or ruler) that marks a measurement
	an academic exercise in which diplomas are conferred