Definition of tangent Tangent
/tæˈnʤʌnt/ - [tanjunt] - tan•gent
We found 16 definitions of tangent from 8 different sources.
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What does tangent mean?
WordNet
NounPlural: tangents |
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| tangent - a straight line or plane that touches a curve or curved surface at a point but does not intersect it at that point | ||
| straight line a line traced by a point traveling in a constant direction; a line of zero curvature; "the shortest distance between two points is a straight line" | ||
| tangent - ratio of the opposite to the adjacent side of a right-angled triangle | ||
| tan | ||
| circular function, trigonometric function function of an angle expressed as a ratio of the length of the sides of right-angled triangle containing the angle | ||
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Wiktionary 
- tangent (Noun)
A straight line touching a curve at a single point without crossing it there. - tangent (Noun)
In a right triangle , the ratio of the length of the side opposite the angle to the length of the side adjacent to the angle. Symbols: tan, tg. - tangent (Noun)
A topic nearly unrelated to the main topic, but having a point in common with it. - tangent (Noun)
A small metal blade by which a clavichord produces sound. - tangent (Adjective)
Touching a curve at a single point but not crossing it at that point. - tangent (Adjective)
Of a topic, only loosely related to a main topic.
Webster DictionaryWebster's Unabridged Dictionary 📘
- tangent (v. t.)
A tangent line curve, or surface; specifically, that portion of the straight line tangent to a curve that is between the point of tangency and a given line, the given line being, for example, the axis of abscissas, or a radius of a circle produced. See Trigonometrical function, under Function. - tangent (a.)
Touching; touching at a single point - tangent (a.)
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 surface; as, a line tangent to a curve; a curve tangent to a surface; tangent surfaces.
OmegaWiki DictionaryOmegaWiki Dictionary Ω
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tangent
A topic nearly unrelated to the main topic, but having a point in common with it.
Chambers DictionaryChamber's 20th Century Dictionary 📕
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tangent
tan′jent, n. a line which touches a curve, and which when produced does not cut it.—ns. Tan′gency, Tan′gence, state of being tangent: a contact or touching.—adj. Tangen′tial, of or pertaining to a tangent: in the direction of a tangent.—n. Tangential′ity.—adv. Tangen′tially, in the direction of a tangent.—Go off, or Fly off, at a tangent, to break off suddenly into a different line of thought, &c. [L. tangens, -entis, pr.p. of tangĕre, to touch.]
Sailor's Word-BookThe Sailor's Word-Book ⛵
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tangent
A right line raised perpendicularly on the extremity of a radius, touching the circle without cutting it.
Wikipedia 
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geometry
In geometry, a tangent is a straight line that touches a curve at one point. Where they touch each other, the line and the curve are both "going in the same direction". For this reason, the tangent is a good approximation to the curve near that point. They are almost the same.
Part of speech
🔤- tangent, noun, singular of tangents.
- tangent, adjective.
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