Tangent of an angle

Tangent of an angle
Tangent Tan"gent, n. [L. tangens, -entis, p. pr. of tangere to touch; akin to Gr. ? having seized: cf. F. tangente. Cf. {Attain}, {Contaminate}, {Contingent}, {Entire}, {Tact}, {Taste}, {Tax}, v. t.] (Geom.) A tangent line curve, or surface; specifically, that portion of the straight line tangent to a curve that is between the point of tangency and a given line, the given line being, for example, the axis of abscissas, or a radius of a circle produced. See {Trigonometrical function}, under {Function}. [1913 Webster]

{Artificial tangent}, or {Logarithmic tangent}, the logarithm of the natural tangent of an arc.

{Natural tangent}, a decimal expressing the length of the tangent of an arc, the radius being reckoned unity.

{Tangent galvanometer} (Elec.), a form of galvanometer having a circular coil and a short needle, in which the tangent of the angle of deflection of the needle is proportional to the strength of the current.

{Tangent of an angle}, the natural tangent of the arc subtending or measuring the angle.

{Tangent of an arc}, a right line, as ta, touching the arc of a circle at one extremity a, and terminated by a line ct, passing from the center through the other extremity o. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Tangent — Tan gent, n. [L. tangens, entis, p. pr. of tangere to touch; akin to Gr. ? having seized: cf. F. tangente. Cf. {Attain}, {Contaminate}, {Contingent}, {Entire}, {Tact}, {Taste}, {Tax}, v. t.] (Geom.) A tangent line curve, or surface; specifically …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Tangent galvanometer — Tangent Tan gent, n. [L. tangens, entis, p. pr. of tangere to touch; akin to Gr. ? having seized: cf. F. tangente. Cf. {Attain}, {Contaminate}, {Contingent}, {Entire}, {Tact}, {Taste}, {Tax}, v. t.] (Geom.) A tangent line curve, or surface;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Tangent of an arc — Tangent Tan gent, n. [L. tangens, entis, p. pr. of tangere to touch; akin to Gr. ? having seized: cf. F. tangente. Cf. {Attain}, {Contaminate}, {Contingent}, {Entire}, {Tact}, {Taste}, {Tax}, v. t.] (Geom.) A tangent line curve, or surface;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • tangent — /tan jeuhnt/, adj. 1. in immediate physical contact; touching. 2. Geom. a. touching at a single point, as a tangent in relation to a curve or surface. b. in contact along a single line or element, as a plane with a cylinder. 3. tangential (def.… …   Universalium

  • Angle — This article is about angles in geometry. For other uses, see Angle (disambiguation). Oblique angle redirects here. For the cinematographic technique, see Dutch angle. ∠, the angle symbol In geometry, an angle is the figure formed by two rays… …   Wikipedia

  • tangent — I. 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… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • tangent — n. & adj. n. 1 a straight line, curve, or surface that meets another curve or curved surface at a point, but if extended does not intersect it at that point. 2 the ratio of the sides opposite and adjacent to an angle in a right angled triangle.… …   Useful english dictionary

  • tangent galvanometer — noun : a galvanometer consisting of a very small magnetic needle in the center of a large vertical circular coil of wire through which electric current is passed and whose plane is in the magnetic meridian with the intensity of the current being… …   Useful english dictionary

  • tangent galvanometer — /tændʒənt gælvəˈnɒmətə/ (say tanjuhnt galvuh nomuhtuh) noun a galvanometer consisting of a coil of wire held in a vertical plane parallel to the earth s magnetic field with a small magnetic needle pivoted at the centre of the coil; the current… …  

  • tangent — tangent, ente [ tɑ̃ʒɑ̃, ɑ̃t ] adj. • 1683; lat. tangens, entis, de tangere « toucher » 1 ♦ Géom. Qui n a qu un point de contact en un seul point. (1705) Plan tangent à une surface : ensemble des tangentes en un point à cette surface, formant… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

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