A tangent is a line that touches the edge of a curve or circle at one point, but does not cross it.
2.
See go off at a tangent
tangent in British English
(ˈtændʒənt)
noun
1.
a geometric line, curve, plane, or curved surface that touches another curve or surface at one point but does not intersect it
2.
(of an angle) a trigonometric function that in a right-angled triangle is the ratio of the length of the opposite side to that of the adjacent side; the ratio of sine to cosine
Abbreviation: tan
3.
the straight part on a survey line between curves
4. music
a part of the action of a clavichord consisting of a small piece of metal that strikes the string to produce a note
5. on a tangent
adjective
6.
a.
of or involving a tangent
b.
touching at a single point
7.
touching
8.
almost irrelevant
Derived forms
tangency (ˈtangency)
noun
Word origin
C16: from Latin phrase līnea tangēns the touching line, from tangere to touch
tangent in American English
(ˈtændʒənt)
adjective
1.
that touches; touching
2. Geometry
touching and not intersecting a curve or curved surface at one and only one point
said of a line or plane
noun
3. Geometry
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
4. TrigonometryMathematics
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
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)
SIMILAR WORDS: adˈjacent
Idioms:
go off at (or on) a tangent
Derived forms
tangency (ˈtangency)
noun
Word origin
L tangens, prp. of tangere, to touch: see tact
More idioms containing
tangent
go off on a tangent
Examples of 'tangent' in a sentence
tangent
He walked crookedly, either bumping into me or wandering away at a tangent.
Brierley, David SKORPION'S DEATH (2002)
But why, she wondered, her thoughts leaping off at a tangent, had that balding, thick-set man seemed familiar?
Loraine, Philip LAST SHOT (2002)
They were capable of galloping off down this sort of a tangent for hours.
Harris, Elizabeth TIME OF THE WOLF (2002)
Was he on a tangent, trying to relive an exciting part of his life?
Chuck Logan ABSOLUTE ZERO (2002)
All related terms of 'tangent'
on a tangent
on a completely different or divergent course, esp of thought
tangent galvanometer
a type of galvanometer having a vertical coil of wire with a horizontal magnetic needle at its centre. The current to be measured is passed through the coil and produces a proportional magnetic field which deflects the needle
go off at a tangent
If someone goes off at a tangent , they start saying or doing something that is not directly connected with what they were saying or doing before.
go off on a tangent
to start saying or thinking something that is not directly connected with what you were saying or thinking before
go off at (or on) a tangent
to break off suddenly from a line of action or train of thought and pursue another course