Definitions:

1. a ratio of the opposite to the adjacent side of a right-angled triangle noun
   • I used the tangent of the sides to calculate the length of the hypotenuse.
2. a straight line or plane that touches a curve or curved surface at a point but does not intersect it at that point noun
   • The tangent touched the arc at its apex.
3. a topic that is related, but not the same as, an original topic noun
   • I was told to talk about boats, but I went on a tangent about trade winds.

NearBy Words:

• tangential
• tangentially