tangent

1 of 2

noun

tan·gent ˈtan-jənt How to pronounce tangent (audio)

: an abrupt change of course : digression

the speaker went off on a tangent

: the trigonometric function that for an acute angle is the ratio between the leg opposite to the angle when it is considered part of a right triangle and the leg adjacent

: a trigonometric function that is equal to the sine divided by the cosine for all real numbers θ for which the cosine is not equal to zero and is exactly equal to the tangent of an angle of measure θ in radians

: a line that is tangent

specifically : a straight line that is the limiting position of a secant of a curve through a fixed point and a variable point on the curve as the variable point approaches the fixed point

: a small upright flat-ended metal pin at the inner end of a clavichord key that strikes the string to produce the tone

Synonyms

Noun

aside
digression
divagation
excursion

See all Synonyms & Antonyms

Example Sentences

Noun in the middle of her description of her dog's symptoms, she went off on a tangent about its cute behavior

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

His tangent was met by appreciative hoots in all corners of the club.

Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2022 The early episodes can be awkward, with a tangent into naval warfare and a notable lack of breakout supporting characters.

Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 19 Aug. 2022 While giving a speech at the 2018 MTV Movie & TV Awards, Pratt famously went on a prolonged tangent about God, Jesus, and the power of prayer.

Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 29 June 2022 Your pocket calculator does something similar—usually a combination of a look-up table and an approximation of a type to get you that value of tangent (34 degrees).

Rhett Allain, Wired, 14 Mar. 2022 Trump began his tangent by talking about Rihanna’s recent pregnancy photos.

Christy Piña, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Mar. 2022 Monáe brings a carefree spirit to thoughtful conversation — happy to veer off on a tangent, deeply enmeshed in the issues raised by her high-concept work.

Justin J Wee, Los Angeles Times, 21 Apr. 2022 Trump then went on a nonsensical tangent that even the Easter Bunny didn’t understand.

Ilana Kaplan, Rolling Stone, 17 Apr. 2022 After going off on a tangent about comedian D.L. Hughley, West ended his Instagram activity Sunday by circling back to the TikTok issue.

Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 13 Mar. 2022

Adjective

This imaginary friend guides him through the tangent universe, encourages him to commit a series of crimes, and ends up triggering a chain of supernatural events.

Anatola Araba, ELLE, 1 Sep. 2022 An early tangent veers into naval warfare, with various forces fighting for crucial shipping lanes.

Darren Franich, EW.com, 19 Aug. 2022 Austin’s former president then went on a tangent talking about Reese’s eggs, Cap’n Crunch and berries.

Frank Pallotta, CNN, 17 Apr. 2022 Remember, varieties can live within varieties, the way the non-tangent intersection of a line and a circle creates a subvariety of two points.

Quanta Magazine, 3 Feb. 2022 The team named their kernel the neural tangent kernel, based on some of its geometric properties.

Quanta Magazine, 11 Oct. 2021 As the destination reveals, the path time is 3.5038, slightly better than that of the arc-tangent strategy.

Quanta Magazine, 25 Aug. 2021 Friedman, meanwhile—after a long, bizarre tangent imagining a Taxi Driver monologue devoted to the importance of voting, rather than vigilantism—scolds Democrats for embracing radical language on police reform.

Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 24 June 2021 Jason Braglia, New Lenox Community Park District’s deputy director of recreation, said officials were unsure when large gatherings would be allowed, as well as what tangent COVID-19 cases might take in the coming months.

Robert Mccoppin, chicagotribune.com, 27 Apr. 2021 See More

Word History

Etymology

Noun

New Latin tangent-, tangens, from linea tangens tangent line

Adjective

Latin tangent-, tangens, present participle of tangere to touch; perhaps akin to Old English thaccian to touch gently, stroke

First Known Use

Noun

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Adjective

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

单词	tangent
释义	tangent 1 of 2 noun tan·gent ˈtan-jənt 1 : an abrupt change of course : digression the speaker went off on a tangent 2 a : the trigonometric function that for an acute angle is the ratio between the leg opposite to the angle when it is considered part of a right triangle and the leg adjacent b : a trigonometric function that is equal to the sine divided by the cosine for all real numbers θ for which the cosine is not equal to zero and is exactly equal to the tangent of an angle of measure θ in radians 3 : a line that is tangent specifically : a straight line that is the limiting position of a secant of a curve through a fixed point and a variable point on the curve as the variable point approaches the fixed point 4 : a small upright flat-ended metal pin at the inner end of a clavichord key that strikes the string to produce the tone tangent 2 of 2 adjective 1 a : meeting a curve or surface in a single point if a sufficiently small interval is considered straight line tangent to a curve b(1) : having a common tangent line at a point tangent curves (2) : having a common tangent plane at a point tangent surfaces 2 : diverging from an original purpose or course : irrelevant tangent remarks Synonyms Noun aside digression divagation excursion See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Noun in the middle of her description of her dog's symptoms, she went off on a tangent about its cute behavior Recent Examples on the Web Noun His tangent was met by appreciative hoots in all corners of the club. Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2022 The early episodes can be awkward, with a tangent into naval warfare and a notable lack of breakout supporting characters. Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 19 Aug. 2022 While giving a speech at the 2018 MTV Movie & TV Awards, Pratt famously went on a prolonged tangent about God, Jesus, and the power of prayer. Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 29 June 2022 Your pocket calculator does something similar—usually a combination of a look-up table and an approximation of a type to get you that value of tangent (34 degrees). Rhett Allain, Wired, 14 Mar. 2022 Trump began his tangent by talking about Rihanna’s recent pregnancy photos. Christy Piña, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Mar. 2022 Monáe brings a carefree spirit to thoughtful conversation — happy to veer off on a tangent, deeply enmeshed in the issues raised by her high-concept work. Justin J Wee, Los Angeles Times, 21 Apr. 2022 Trump then went on a nonsensical tangent that even the Easter Bunny didn’t understand. Ilana Kaplan, Rolling Stone, 17 Apr. 2022 After going off on a tangent about comedian D.L. Hughley, West ended his Instagram activity Sunday by circling back to the TikTok issue. Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 13 Mar. 2022 Adjective This imaginary friend guides him through the tangent universe, encourages him to commit a series of crimes, and ends up triggering a chain of supernatural events. Anatola Araba, ELLE, 1 Sep. 2022 An early tangent veers into naval warfare, with various forces fighting for crucial shipping lanes. Darren Franich, EW.com, 19 Aug. 2022 Austin’s former president then went on a tangent talking about Reese’s eggs, Cap’n Crunch and berries. Frank Pallotta, CNN, 17 Apr. 2022 Remember, varieties can live within varieties, the way the non-tangent intersection of a line and a circle creates a subvariety of two points. Quanta Magazine, 3 Feb. 2022 The team named their kernel the neural tangent kernel, based on some of its geometric properties. Quanta Magazine, 11 Oct. 2021 As the destination reveals, the path time is 3.5038, slightly better than that of the arc-tangent strategy. Quanta Magazine, 25 Aug. 2021 Friedman, meanwhile—after a long, bizarre tangent imagining a Taxi Driver monologue devoted to the importance of voting, rather than vigilantism—scolds Democrats for embracing radical language on police reform. Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 24 June 2021 Jason Braglia, New Lenox Community Park District’s deputy director of recreation, said officials were unsure when large gatherings would be allowed, as well as what tangent COVID-19 cases might take in the coming months. Robert Mccoppin, chicagotribune.com, 27 Apr. 2021 See More Word History Etymology Noun New Latin tangent-, tangens, from linea tangens tangent line Adjective Latin tangent-, tangens, present participle of tangere to touch; perhaps akin to Old English thaccian to touch gently, stroke First Known Use Noun 1594, in the meaning defined at sense 2a Adjective 1594, in the meaning defined at sense 1a Phrases Containing tangent arc tangent go off on a tangent tangent plane arc tangent go off on a tangent tangent plane tangent 1 of 2 noun as in aside a departure from the subject under consideration in the middle of her description of her dog's symptoms, she went off on a tangent about its cute behavior Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance aside digression excursus excursion parenthesis circularity rambling divagation diffuseness prolixity verbosity wordiness windiness circumlocution circuitousness tangent 2 of 2 adjective as in tangential Synonyms & Similar Words tangential peripheral irrelevant incidental extraneous immaterial moot inapplicable impertinent irrelative unimportant insignificant pointless inconsequential meaningless useless inapposite inane inappropriate dead senseless empty unsuitable inapt Antonyms & Near Antonyms relative relevant pertinent important applicable germane material meaningful significant pointed useful apropos sensible appropriate apposite apt suitable fit See More
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tangent

noun

adjective

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Phrases Containing tangent

noun

adjective