tangent

views updated May 29 2018

tan·gent / ˈtanjənt/ • n. 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. ∎ fig. a completely different line of thought or action: she went off on a tangent about how she and her husband had driven past a department store window.2. Math. the trigonometric function that is equal to the ratio of the sides (other than the hypotenuse) opposite and adjacent to an angle in a right triangle.• adj. (of a line or plane) touching, but not intersecting, a curve or curved surface.DERIVATIVES: tan·gen·cy / -jənsē/ n.

tangent

tangent

views updated Jun 11 2018

tangent (from Lat. tangere, to touch). Part of clavichord, a small metal ‘tongue’, which touches a str. when key is struck and produces sound. Remains in contact with str. while note sounds.

tangent

views updated May 21 2018

tangent (geom.) adj. touching at a point XVI; sb. XVI. — L. tangēns, -ent-, prp. of tangere touch. See -ENT.
Hence tangential XVII.

tangent

views updated May 14 2018

tangent In trigonometry, ratio of the length of the side opposite an acute angle to the length of the side adjacent to it within a right-angle triangle.