| 释义 |
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2024tan•gent /ˈtændʒənt/USA pronunciation n. [countable]- Mathematicsa line or plane that touches but does not intersect a curve or surface at a point.
- MathematicsAlso called tan.a basic function in trigonometry that, in a right triangle, equals the side opposite an acute angle divided by the side next to that angle.
adj. - in physical contact; touching.
- Mathematicstouching at a single point, as a tangent in relation to a curve or surface.
Idioms- Idioms off on or at a tangent, going off suddenly from one course of discussion to another:has gone off on a tangent and forgotten his main idea.
tan•gen•tial /tænˈdʒɛnʃəl/USA pronunciation adj.See -tact-. WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2024tan•gent (tan′jənt),USA pronunciation adj. - in immediate physical contact;
touching. - Mathematics[Geom.]
- Mathematicstouching at a single point, as a tangent in relation to a curve or surface.
- Mathematicsin contact along a single line or element, as a plane with a cylinder.
- tangential (def. 3).
n. - Mathematics[Geom.]a line or a plane that touches a curve or a surface at a point so that it is closer to the curve in the vicinity of the point than any other line or plane drawn through the point.
- Mathematics[Trig.]
- (in a right triangle) the ratio of the side opposite a given angle to the side adjacent to the angle.
- Also called tan. (of an angle) a trigonometric function equal to the ratio of the ordinate of the end point of the arc to the abscissa of this end point, the origin being at the center of the circle on which the arc lies and the initial point of the arc being on the x-axis. Abbr.: tg, tgn
- (originally) a straight line perpendicular to the radius of a circle at one end of an arc and extending from this point to the produced radius which cuts off the arc at its other end.
- the upright metal blade, fastened on the inner end of a clavichord key, that rises and strikes the string when the outer end of the key is depressed.
- off on or at a tangent, digressing suddenly from one course of action or thought and turning to another:The speaker flew off on a tangent.
- Latin tangent- (stem of tangēns, present participle of tangere to touch) in phrase līnea tangēns touching line; see -ent
- 1585–90
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged meeting, abutting.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers:: tangent /ˈtændʒənt/ n - a geometric line, curve, plane, or curved surface that touches another curve or surface at one point but does not intersect it
- (of an angle) a trigonometric function that in a right-angled triangle is the ratio of the length of the opposite side to that of the adjacent side; the ratio of sine to cosine
Abbreviation: tan - a part of the action of a clavichord consisting of a small piece of metal that strikes the string to produce a note
- on a tangent, at a tangent ⇒ on a completely different or divergent course, esp of thought
adj - of or involving a tangent
- touching at a single point
- touching
Etymology: 16th Century: from Latin phrase līnea tangēns the touching line, from tangere to touchˈtangency n |