Associations to the word «Tangent»

Wiktionary

TANGENT, noun. (geometry) A straight line touching a curve at a single point without crossing it there.
TANGENT, noun. (trigonometry) 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. (mathematics) The ratio of the sine to the cosine, in either the real or complex numbers.-->
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. (geometry) 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.
TANGENT PLANE, noun. (differential geometry) Given a point P on a surface M, the tangent plane of M at point P, denoted by TP(M), is the plane passing through P which contains the tangent lines of all the curves on M passing through P.

Dictionary definition

TANGENT, noun. A straight line or plane that touches a curve or curved surface at a point but does not intersect it at that point.
TANGENT, noun. Ratio of the opposite to the adjacent side of a right-angled triangle.

Wise words

The most valuable of all talents is that of never using two words when one will do.
Thomas Jefferson