ˈtanjənt
tangent |ˈtanjənt| noun 1 a straight line or plane that touches a curve or curved surface at a point, but if extended does not cross it at that point.tangent 1 tangent 1 2 a completely different line of thought or action: he quickly went off on a tangent about wrestling. 3 Mathematics the trigonometric function that is equal to the ratio of the sides (other than the hypotenuse) opposite and adjacent to an angle in a right triangle. adjective (of a line or plane) touching, but not intersecting, a curve or curved surface. DERIVATIVES tangency |ˈtanj(ə)nsē| noun ORIGIN late 16th century ( sense 3 of the noun and as an adjective): from Latin tangent- ‘touching,’ from the verb tangere .