Tangent: meaning, definitions and examples
๐
tangent
[ หtรฆnสคษnt ]
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.
conversation
A completely different line of thought or action.
Synonyms
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.
Translations
Translations of the word "tangent" in other languages:
๐ต๐น tangente
๐ฎ๐ณ เคธเฅเคชเคฐเฅเคถเคฐเฅเคเคพ
๐ฉ๐ช Tangente
๐ฎ๐ฉ tangen
๐บ๐ฆ ะดะพัะธัะฝะฐ
๐ต๐ฑ styczna
๐ฏ๐ต ๆฅ็ท (ใใฃใใ)
๐ซ๐ท tangente
๐ช๐ธ tangente
๐น๐ท teฤet
๐ฐ๐ท ์ ์
๐ธ๐ฆ ู ู ุงุณ
๐จ๐ฟ teฤna
๐ธ๐ฐ dotyฤnica
๐จ๐ณ ๅ็บฟ (qiฤxiร n)
๐ธ๐ฎ tangenta
๐ฎ๐ธ snertill
๐ฐ๐ฟ ะถะฐะฝะฐัั
๐ฌ๐ช แกแแแ แกแ
๐ฆ๐ฟ toxunma xษtti
๐ฒ๐ฝ tangente
Word origin
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.