tangent

3 entries found for tangent.
To select an entry, click on it.

tangent[1,adjective] tangent[2,noun] tangent plane

Main Entry: ¹tan·gent
Pronunciation: 'tan-j&nt
Function: adjective
Etymology: Latin tangent-, tangens, present participle of tangere to touch; perhaps akin to Old English thaccian to touch gently, stroke
1 a : meeting a curve or surface in a single point if a sufficiently small interval is considered <straight line tangent to a curve> b (1) : having a common tangent line at a point <tangent curves> (2) : having a common tangent plane at a point <tangent surfaces>
2 : diverging from an original purpose or course : IRRELEVANT <tangent remarks>