subtend

sub·tend

verb \səb-ˈtend\

Definition of SUBTEND

transitive verb

1

a : to be opposite to and extend from one side to the other of <a hypotenuse subtends a right angle> b : to fix the angular extent of with respect to a fixed point or object taken as the vertex <a central angle subtended by an arc> <the angle subtended at the eye by an object of given width and a fixed distance away> c : to determine the measure of by marking off the endpoints of <a chord subtends an arc>

2

a : to underlie so as to include b : to occupy an adjacent and usually lower position to and often so as to embrace or enclose <a bract that subtends a flower>

Origin of SUBTEND

Latin subtendere to stretch beneath, from sub- + tendere to stretch — more at thin

First Known Use: 1570

Rhymes with SUBTEND

addend, amend, append, ascend, attend, bartend, befriend, Big Bend, bookend, boyfriend, closed-end, commend, compend, contend, dead end, dead-end, defend, depend, descend, distend, downtrend, emend, expend, extend, fag end, forfend, front-end, girlfriend, Gravesend, headend, high-end, hornblende, impend, intend, Land's End, loose end, low-end, missend, misspend, next friend, no end, offend, on end, Ostend, outspend, perpend, pitchblende, portend, pretend, propend, protend, rear-end, resend, sheet bend, South Bend, split end, stipend, suspend, tag end, tail end, tight end, top-end, transcend, unbend, unkenned, upend, uptrend, weekend, year-end