noun
Uncommon
tangent
TAN-juhnt
Tangent (noun) means a straight line that touches a curve at exactly one point without crossing it. Example: “Draw a tangent to the circle at that point.”
noun
1
A straight line that touches a curve at exactly one point without crossing it.
"Draw a tangent to the circle at that point."
2
A sudden shift to a topic only loosely related to what was being discussed.
"He went off on a tangent about his holiday plans."
"Let's not go off on a tangent — back to the budget."
How to use tangent
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishIn geometry, a line touching a curve at one point; in everyday speech, a side-topic that veers away from the main subject.
Common mistake
In everyday use it almost always means "going off topic," not the mathematical line.
Common pairings
go off on a tangent
a mathematical tangent
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Word forms
- Plural
- tangents
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Draw a _____ to the circle at that point.
Etymology
From Latin tangens ("touching"), the present participle of tangere ("to touch").
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “tangent” mean?
The word “tangent” means a straight line that touches a curve at exactly one point without crossing it. In plain terms, in geometry, a line touching a curve at one point; in everyday speech, a side-topic that veers away from the main subject.
How do you pronounce “tangent”?
“Tangent” is pronounced TAN-juhnt (/ˈtæn.d͡ʒənt/ in IPA).
How do you use “tangent” in a sentence?
Here is “tangent” used in a sentence: “Draw a tangent to the circle at that point.”
What part of speech is “tangent”?
“Tangent” is a noun.
Where does the word “tangent” come from?
The word “tangent” comes from Latin. From Latin tangens ("touching"), the present participle of tangere ("to touch").
Is “tangent” a common word?
“Tangent” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “tangent” have?
“Tangent” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a straight line that touches a curve at exactly one point without crossing it.
