tangent

tangent
tangent [tan′jənt]
adj.
[L tangens, prp. of tangere, to touch: see TACT]
1. that touches; touching
2. Geom. touching and not intersecting a curve or curved surface at one and only one point: said of a line or plane
n.
[< ModL ( linea) tangens, tangent (line)]
1. Geom.
a) a tangent line, curve, or surface
b) the length of a straight line tangent to a curve, measured from the point of tangency to the intersection of the tangent line with the x-axis
2. Trigonometry the reciprocal of the cotangent; specif.,
a) the ratio of the opposite side of a given acute angle in a right triangle to the adjacent side: see SINE1
b) an equivalent, positive or negative ratio for certain related angles (Ex.: the tangent of 57° or 237° is 1.5399, of 123° or 303° is -1.5399) or real numbers representing radians (Ex.: the tangent of .9948 radians (57°) is 1.5399)
SYN.- ADJACENT
——————
go off at (or on) a tangent or fly off at (or on) a tangent
to break off suddenly from a line of action or train of thought and pursue another course
tangency
n.

English World dictionary. . 2014.

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  • tangent — tangent, ente [ tɑ̃ʒɑ̃, ɑ̃t ] adj. • 1683; lat. tangens, entis, de tangere « toucher » 1 ♦ Géom. Qui n a qu un point de contact en un seul point. (1705) Plan tangent à une surface : ensemble des tangentes en un point à cette surface, formant… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Tangent — Tan gent, n. [L. tangens, entis, p. pr. of tangere to touch; akin to Gr. ? having seized: cf. F. tangente. Cf. {Attain}, {Contaminate}, {Contingent}, {Entire}, {Tact}, {Taste}, {Tax}, v. t.] (Geom.) A tangent line curve, or surface; specifically …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • tangent — TANGÉNT, Ă, tangenţi, te, adj., s.f. 1. adj. (Despre drepte) Care atinge o curbă într un singur punct. ♦ (Despre planuri) Care conţine tangente (2) la toate curbele care trec printr un punct al unei suprafeţe, care atinge suprafaţa într un singur …   Dicționar Român

  • Tangent — Tan gent, a. [L. tangens, entis, p. pr.] Touching; touching at a single point; specifically (Geom.) meeting a curve or surface at a point and having at that point the same direction as the curve or surface; said of a straight line, curve, or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Tangent — Ciudad de los Estados Unidos …   Wikipedia Español

  • tangent — tangent, ente (tan jan, jan t ) adj. 1°   Terme de géométrie. Qui touche une ligne ou une surface en un seul point.    Une ligne droite tangente à une courbe est la limite des positions d une sécante dont un des points d intersection avec la… …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

  • Tangent — Tangent, OR U.S. city in Oregon Population (2000): 933 Housing Units (2000): 366 Land area (2000): 3.778661 sq. miles (9.786686 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 3.778661 sq. miles (9.786686 sq.… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Tangent, OR — U.S. city in Oregon Population (2000): 933 Housing Units (2000): 366 Land area (2000): 3.778661 sq. miles (9.786686 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 3.778661 sq. miles (9.786686 sq. km) FIPS code …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • tangent — ► NOUN 1) a straight line or plane that touches a curve or curved surface at a point, but if extended does not cross it at that point. 2) Mathematics the trigonometric function that is equal to the ratio of the sides (other than the hypotenuse)… …   English terms dictionary

  • tangent — index close (near), proximate, tangential Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

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