Touching a curve at a single point but not crossing it at that point.
Of a topic, only loosely related to a main topic.
Straight; not horizontally curved.
Related
Similar words
tangent line
Origin
Borrowed from Latin tangentem, the accusative of tangēns (in the phrase līnea tangēns), the present participle of the verb tangō, from Proto-Indo-European *teh₂g- ("to touch"). Cognate with Old English þaccian ("to touch lightly, pat, stroke"). More at thack, thwack.
Modern English dictionary
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