tangent

[ tan-juhnt ]

adjective

1. in immediate physical contact; touching.

   Synonyms: meeting

2. Geometry.
   1. touching at a single point, as a tangent in relation to a curve or surface.
   2. in contact along a single line or element, as a plane with a cylinder.
3. tangential ( def 3 ).

noun

1. Geometry. a line or a plane that touches a curve or a surface at a point so that it is closer to the curve in the vicinity of the point than any other line or plane drawn through the point.
2. Trigonometry.
   1. (in a right triangle) the ratio of the side opposite a given angle to the side adjacent to the angle.
   2. Also called tan. (of an angle) a trigonometric function equal to the ratio of the ordinate of the end point of the arc to the abscissa of this end point, the origin being at the center of the circle on which the arc lies and the initial point of the arc being on the x-axis. : tg, tgn
   3. (originally) a straight line perpendicular to the radius of a circle at one end of an arc and extending from this point to the produced radius which cuts off the arc at its other end.
3. the upright metal blade, fastened on the inner end of a clavichord key, that rises and strikes the string when the outer end of the key is depressed.

tangent

/ ˈtændʒənt /

noun

1. a geometric line, curve, plane, or curved surface that touches another curve or surface at one point but does not intersect it
2. (of an angle) a trigonometric function that in a right-angled triangle is the ratio of the length of the opposite side to that of the adjacent side; the ratio of sine to cosine tan
3. the straight part on a survey line between curves
4. music a part of the action of a clavichord consisting of a small piece of metal that strikes the string to produce a note
5. on a tangent or at a tangent
   on a completely different or divergent course, esp of thought

   to go off at a tangent

adjective

1. 1. of or involving a tangent
   2. touching at a single point
2. touching
3. almost irrelevant

tangent

/ tăn′jənt /

1. A line, curve, or surface touching but not intersecting another.
2. The ratio of the length of the side opposite an acute angle in a right triangle to the side adjacent to the angle. The tangent of an angle is equal to the sine of the angle divided by the cosine of the angle.
3. The ratio of the ordinate to the abscissa of the endpoint of an arc of a unit circle centered at the origin of a Cartesian coordinate system, the arc being of length x and measured counterclockwise from the point (1, 0) if x is positive or clockwise if x is negative.
4. A function of a number x, equal to the tangent of an angle whose measure in radians is equal to x.

Derived Forms

• ˈtangency, noun

Other Words From

• quasi-tangent adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of tangent¹

First recorded in 1585–90; from Latin tangent-, stem of tangēns “touching” (present participle of tangere “to touch”), in phrase līnea tangēns “touching line”

Word History and Origins

Origin of tangent¹

C16: from Latin phrase līnea tangēns the touching line, from tangere to touch

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. off on / at a tangent, digressing suddenly from one course of action or thought and turning to another:

   The speaker flew off on a tangent.

More idioms and phrases containing tangent

see on a tangent .

Example Sentences

But even as he veered into tangents and grievances, he continued to present himself as a threat to the establishment.

From Los Angeles Times

Woolley said such tangents are the last thing a traditional campaign wants, but they somehow resonate with Trump’s base and may help “get out the vote of his people,” which is what he wants.

From Los Angeles Times

It’s worth noting that Coelen offered this perspective unasked, and as a tangent to a conversation about the relationship “Love Is Blind” participants have to broader social and political conversations simmering throughout American culture.

From Salon

Our conversation goes on many tangents — the sitcom “Designing Women,” the Oscar race, the musical “Wicked.”

From Los Angeles Times

Trump has mixed up words, names, places and timelines in his remarks on the campaign trail and in interviews, and routinely goes on strange tangents in the midst of longer and longer stump speeches.

From Los Angeles Times