tangent
/ˈtæn.d͡ʒənt/
Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.19 in modern English
Meaning
noun
A function of an angle that gives the ratio of the sine to the cosine, in either the real or complex numbers. Symbols: tan, tg.
noun
A course suddenly and unexpectedly divergent from one which was previously being followed (especially one embarked on before reaching the end of the previous course).
noun
A course suddenly and unexpectedly divergent from one which was previously being followed (especially one embarked on before reaching the end of the previous course).
noun
A visual interaction between two or more lines or edges that creates a perceived relationship between them, often in a way that the artist did not intend.
adj
Of a topic, only loosely related to a main topic.
Example Sentences
- "One feature of the body, which is constructed of pressed-steel members, is the contour of the sides. They are in the form of a continuous radius from the bottom side to the cant rail, and to enable flat glass windows to be fitted the side panels are pressed around the window opening, forming a tangent to the curved bodyside."
- "I believe we went off onto a tangent when we started talking about monkeys on unicycles at his retirement party."
- "“Uncle Barnaby was always father and mother to me,” Benson broke in; then after a pause his mind flew off at a tangent. “Is old Hannah all right—in the will, I mean?”"
- "Jon & Kate Plus 8 is a show based on two facts: (1) Jon and Kate Gosselin have eight children, and (2) the word ‘Kate’ rhymes with the word ‘eight’. One suspects that if Kate were ever to have another child, a shady network executive would urge her to put it in a binbag with a brick and drop it down a well. But this is just a horrifying tangent."
- "The collision occurred on a two-mile stretch of tangent track."
- "OK. Did that have anything to do with what I was saying? I just wanna know if you're tangenting or making an oblique connection I'm missing."
Etymology
Origin
- Source language: Latin