Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

tangential

/tænˈd͡ʒɛn.t͡ʃəl/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.73 in modern English

Syllables: tan-gen-tial
IPA: /tænˈd͡ʒɛn.t͡ʃəl/

11

Scrabble Score

10

Letters

3

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Referring to a tangent, moving at a tangent to something.

adj

Merely touching, positioned as a tangent.

adj

Only indirectly related.

Example Sentences

"The meteor came in on a tangential orbit and exploded about 8 or 10 miles above the earth's surface, just south of the Arctic Circle."
"A doorknob of whatever roundish shape is effectively a continuum of levers, with the axis of the latching mechanism—known as the spindle—being the fulcrum about which the turning takes place. Applying a force tangential to the knob is essentially equivalent to applying one perpendicular to a radial line defining the lever."
"The archoplasm divides and forms a very large spindle which first lies tangential to the surface of the nucleus."
"That subject is tangential to our discussion, and we cannot let it distract us."

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *teh₂g- Proto-Italic *tangō Latin tangō Latin tangēns Latin tangentembor. English tangent Proto-Indo-European *h₂el- Proto-Indo-European *-is Proto-Indo-European *h₂élisder.? Proto-Italic *-ālis Latin -ālisder. Old French -ialder. Middle English -ial English -ial English tangential From tangent + -ial.

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /tænˈd͡ʒɛn.t͡ʃəl/
British English: /tænˈd͡ʒɛn.t͡ʃəl/

Inflected Forms

more tangential (comparative) most tangential (superlative) tangental (alternative, dated)

Derived Forms

bitangential equitangential nontangential tangentiality tangentialize tangentially untangential

Phrases

tangential triangle tangential velocity

Frequently Paired Words

tangent tangental

Synonyms

tangent incidental digressive

Rhymes With

potential essential non-essential presidential residential influential confidential differential existential exponential sequential preferential

Questions

How do you pronounce tangential?: The recorded pronunciation is /tænˈd͡ʒɛn.t͡ʃəl/.
What does tangential mean?: Referring to a tangent, moving at a tangent to something.
Where does tangential come from?: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *teh₂g- Proto-Italic *tangō Latin tangō Latin tangēns Latin tangentembor. English tangent Proto-Indo-European *h₂el- Proto-Indo-European *-is Proto-Indo-European *h₂élisder.? Proto-Italic *-ālis Latin -ālisder. Old French -ialder. Middle English -ial English -ial English tangential From tangent + -ial.

How to pronounce tangential

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