tangent
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a sudden change to a different subject that is only slightly related to what you were talking about.
n.a sudden divergence from a main line of thought or course of action into a marginally related topic.
Simple“The professor went off on a long tangent about his cat during the history lecture.”
In context“The meeting was productive until the CEO went off on a tangent regarding his recent holiday, which delayed the final vote by twenty minutes.”
UsageCommonly used in the phrase 'go off on a tangent'.
- 02 C1 Advanced
n.a straight line that touches a curve at one point but does not cross it.
n.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.
Simple“The teacher asked us to draw a tangent to the circle at point P.”
In context“The student calculated the slope of the tangent to the curve at the specific point where the derivative was zero.”
- 03 C1 Advanced
n.a mathematical function used to calculate the relationship between the sides of a triangle.
n.a trigonometric function that represents the ratio of the opposite side to the adjacent side of a right-angled triangle.
Simple“You can find the height of the tree if you know the angle and the tangent.”
In context“In the final exam, students were required to solve for the unknown angle using the inverse tangent function.”
Synonyms - 04 C2 Proficiency
n.a mistake in a drawing where two lines touch in a way that looks confusing or flat.
n.an unintended visual relationship created when two edges or lines touch, often resulting in a loss of depth or clarity in the composition.
Simple“The artist moved the tree in the painting to avoid a tangent with the character's head.”
In context“The illustrator carefully adjusted the character's silhouette to eliminate a distracting tangent where the sword edge met the background mountain range.”
- 05 C2 Proficiency
n.a small metal part in an old keyboard instrument that hits the strings to make sound.
n.a small brass blade in a clavichord that strikes the string to produce sound and remains in contact with it to determine the pitch.
Simple“The musician adjusted the tangent to make sure the note sounded clear.”
In context“Unlike a piano hammer, the clavichord tangent stays against the string, allowing the player to influence the sound through pressure.”
- 06 C1 Advanced
adj.describing a line that touches a curve at one point.
adj.meeting a curve or surface at a point and having at that point the same direction as the curve or surface.
Simple“The tangent line just barely touches the edge of the circle.”
In context“The physicist explained that the velocity vector is always tangent to the path of the moving particle.”
Borrowed from Latin tangentem, the accusative of tangēns (“touching”) (in the phrase līnea tangēns (“a touching line”)), the present participle of the verb tangō (“touch”, verb), from Proto-Italic tangō, from Proto-Indo-European teh₂g- (“to touch”). Cognate with Old English þaccian (“to touch lightly, pat, stroke”). More at thack, thwack.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.