Tangent: meaning, definitions and examples

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tangent

 

[ หˆtรฆnสคษ™nt ]

Noun / Verb
Context #1 | Noun

mathematics

A straight line or plane that touches a curve or curved surface at a point but does not intersect it at that point.

Synonyms

secant, touching line

Examples of usage

  • The tangent to a circle is perpendicular to the radius at the point of contact.
  • In trigonometry, the tangent is a fundamental trigonometric function.
Context #2 | Noun

conversation

A completely different line of thought or action.

Synonyms

digression, divergence

Examples of usage

  • She went off on a tangent and started talking about her vacation plans.
  • Let's try to stay focused and not go off on tangents.
Context #3 | Verb

mathematics

To touch a curve or surface at a point as a tangent.

Synonyms

intersect, touch

Examples of usage

  • The line tangents the curve at the point (3, 4).

Translations

Translations of the word "tangent" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น tangente

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคธเฅเคชเคฐเฅเคถเคฐเฅ‡เค–เคพ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Tangente

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ tangen

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะดะพั‚ะธั‡ะฝะฐ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ styczna

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ๆŽฅ็ทš (ใ›ใฃใ›ใ‚“)

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท tangente

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ tangente

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท teฤŸet

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ์ ‘์„ 

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ู…ู…ุงุณ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ teฤna

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ dotyฤnica

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๅˆ‡็บฟ (qiฤ“xiร n)

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ tangenta

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ snertill

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะถะฐะฝะฐััƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒกแƒžแƒแƒ แƒกแƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ toxunma xษ™tti

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ tangente

Etymology

The word 'tangent' originated from the Latin word 'tangens', which means 'touching'. In mathematics, the concept of tangents has been used since ancient times, with early Greek mathematicians exploring the properties of tangents to circles. The modern usage of 'tangent' in conversation to refer to a divergent line of thought emerged in the 17th century.

See also: tang, tangerine, tangible, tangle, tangy.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranked #10,213, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.