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1. A straight line or plane that touches a curve or curved surface at a point but does not intersect it at that point
    
2. Ratio of the opposite to the adjacent side of a right-angled triangle
   - tan
    
3. A topic nearly unrelated to the main topic, but having a point in common with it
   "If you speak from notes, remember that it’s easy to get distracted or go off on a tangent"

Derived forms: tangents

See also: tangency, tangential

Type of: circular function, straight line, trigonometric function

Encyclopedia: Tangent, OR Tangent Tangent, Oregon Tangent, Or