IN MATH: 1. n. a line which intersects a circle at a point. EX. Circles which touch at just one point are called tangent. 2. n. in a right triangle, the ratio of the length of the side opposite an angle to the length of the side adjacent to the angle. 3. n. a function of all angles except EX. . 4. n. a line whose slope is equal to the slope of a curve at the point of tangency.

IN ENGLISH: 1. adj. just touching. 2. as defined above. EX. A wheel may be tangent to the ground.

APPLICATION: See list 330.


Abbreviation for tangent. See TANGENT.

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