secant

views updated Jun 11 2018

se·cant / ˈsēˌkant; -kənt/ • n. 1. (abbr.: sec) Math. the ratio of the hypotenuse to the shorter side adjacent to an acute angle (in a right-angled triangle); the reciprocal of a cosine.2. Geom. a straight line that cuts a curve in two or more parts.

secant

views updated May 11 2018

secant In trigonometry, ratio of the length of the hypotenuse to the length of the side adjacent to an acute angle in a right-angled triangle. The secant of angle A is usually abbreviated to sec A, and is equal to the reciprocal of its cosine.

secant

views updated May 29 2018

secant in full s. line. XVI. — F. sécant adj., sécante sb. — modL. use of L. secāns, -ant-, prp. of secāre cut; see SECTION, -ANT.