(of an angle) a trigonometric function that in a right-angled triangle is the ratio of the length of the hypotenuse to that of the adjacent side; the reciprocal of cosine
Abbreviation: sec
2.
a line that intersects a curve
Derived forms
secantly (ˈsecantly)
adverb
Word origin
C16: from Latin secāre to cut
secant in American English
(ˈsikənt)
adjective
1.
cutting; intersecting
noun
2. Geometry
any straight line intersecting a curve at two or more points
3. TrigonometryMathematics
the reciprocal of the cosine
; specif.,
a.
the ratio of the hypotenuse to the adjacent side of a given acute angle in a right triangle
b.
an equivalent, positive or negative ratio for certain related angles (Ex.: the secant of 57° or 303° is 1.8362, of 123° or 237° is -1.8362) or real numbers representing radians (Ex.: the secant of .9948 radians (57°) is 1.8362)