Main Entry: ¹tan·gent

Pronunciation: \ˈtan-jənt\

Function: adjective

Etymology: Latin tangent-, tangens, present participle of tangere to touch; perhaps akin to Old English thaccian to touch gently, stroke

Date: 1594

1 a : meeting a curve or surface in a single point if a sufficiently small interval is considered <straight line tangent to a curve> b (1) : having a common tangent line at a point <tangent curves> (2) : having a common tangent plane at a point <tangent surfaces>
2 : diverging from an original purpose or course : irrelevant <tangent remarks>