tangent

tangent
tan|gent [ `tændʒənt ] noun count
1. ) TECHNICAL a straight line that touches the edge of a circle but does not pass through it
2. ) in a RIGHT TRIANGLE, the measurement of an ACUTE angle that is equal to the length of the side opposite the angle divided by the length of the side between the angle and the RIGHT angle
go off at/on a tangent INFORMAL
to suddenly start doing, discussing, or thinking about something completely different:
His mind had gone off at a complete tangent.

Usage of the words and phrases in modern English. 2013.

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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′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 …   English World dictionary

  • 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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