osculate

views updated

os·cu·late / ˈäskyəˌlāt/ • v. [tr.] 1. Math. (of a curve or surface) touch (another curve or surface) so as to have a common tangent at the point of contact: [as adj.] (osculating) the plots have been drawn using osculating orbital elements. 2. formal or humorous kiss.DERIVATIVES: os·cu·lant / -lənt/ adj.os·cu·la·tion / ˌäskyəˈlāshən/ n.os·cu·la·to·ry / -ləˌtôrē/ adj.ORIGIN: mid 17th cent.: from Latin osculat- ‘kissed,’ from the verb osculari, from osculum ‘little mouth or kiss.’

More From encyclopedia.com