¹tangent

adjective tan·gent \ˈtan-jənt\

Definition of TANGENT

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>

: diverging from an original purpose or course : irrelevant <tangent remarks>

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Origin of TANGENT

Latin tangent-, tangens, present participle of tangere to touch; perhaps akin to Old English thaccian to touch gently, stroke

First Known Use: 1594

Other Mathematics and Statistics Terms

abscissa, denominator, divisor, equilateral, exponent, hypotenuse, logarithm, oblique, radii, rhomb

Rhymes with TANGENT

plangent

²tangent

noun

geometry : a line that touches a sphere or circle at only one point

Full Definition of TANGENT

a : the trigonometric function that for an acute angle is the ratio between the leg opposite to the angle when it is considered part of a right triangle and the leg adjacent

b : a trigonometric function that is equal to the sine divided by the cosine for all real numbers θ for which the cosine is not equal to zero and is exactly equal to the tangent of an angle of measure θ in radians

: a line that is tangent; specifically : a straight line that is the limiting position of a secant of a curve through a fixed point and a variable point on the curve as the variable point approaches the fixed point

: an abrupt change of course : digression <the speaker went off on a tangent>

: a small upright flat-ended metal pin at the inner end of a clavichord key that strikes the string to produce the tone

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