cosecant

co·se·cant

noun \(ˌ)kō-ˈsē-ˌkant, -kənt\

Definition of COSECANT

1

: a trigonometric function that for an acute angle is the ratio between the hypotenuse of a right triangle of which the angle is considered part and the leg opposite the angle

2

: a trigonometric function csc θ that is the reciprocal of the sine for all real numbers θ for which the sine is not zero and that is exactly equal to the cosecant of an angle of measure θ in radians

Origin of COSECANT

New Latin cosecant-, cosecans, from co- + secant-, secans secant

First Known Use: circa 1706