Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

tangent

noun

/ˈtæn.dʒənt/

Definition

A tangent is a straight line that touches a curve at a single point without crossing it.

Examples

The tangent to the circle at that point is horizontal.
During the conversation, she went off on a tangent about her travels.
In calculus, the derivative of a function at a point gives the slope of the tangent line at that point.

Meaning

In mathematics, a tangent can refer to the line that intersects a circle or curve at one point. In a more general sense, it can mean something that is only remotely related or diverges from a main topic.