tangent

Meanings

1. 1nouncountablemathematics

   A straight line that touches a curve at exactly one point without cutting across it.

   Grammar: Countable: draw a tangent to a circle.

   Patterns

   • a tangent to something

   Draw a tangent to the circle at point A.

   A tangent meets the curve at only one point.

   The teacher showed how the slope of a tangent gives the rate of change.

2. 2nouncountablefigurative

   A sudden move away from the main topic into something only loosely related, in speech, writing or thought.

   Grammar: Usually in the phrase go off on a tangent.

   Patterns

   • go off on a tangent
   • fly off at a tangent

   He went off on a tangent about his holiday while we were discussing the budget.

   Sorry, I'm going off on a tangent here.

   The lecture kept veering onto tangents that confused the students.

3. 3nouncountablemathematics

   In trigonometry, the ratio of the side opposite an angle to the side next to it in a right triangle.

   Grammar: Often shortened to tan: the tangent of 45 degrees is 1.

   Patterns

   • the tangent of an angle

   The tangent of 45 degrees is 1.

   Use the tangent to find the height of the tree.

   Calculators have a button for the tangent function.

Word forms

Common combinations

go off on a tangent

Whenever we discuss politics, my uncle goes off on a tangent.

fly off at a tangent

She flew off at a tangent and started talking about her dog.

tangent to a circle

The line is a tangent to the circle.

wander off on a tangent

The story wandered off on a tangent halfway through.

on a tangent

I'll come back to that point, but first a quick tangent.

Synonyms and how they differ

digression

Digression is the formal word for the same departure from the main topic, while tangent is more casual.

aside

An aside is a short remark and is brief, whereas a tangent can run on for a while.

detour

Detour is a physical or figurative different route, which implies you intend to return.

sidetrack

Sidetrack is usually used as a verb and suggests being distracted, not choosing to wander.

Word family

tangential adjective

only slightly connected to the main point

tangentially adverb

in a way that barely touches the main issue

tangency noun

the state of touching at a single point

tangible adjective

from the same Latin root of touching; able to be felt

Commonly confused: tangent or tangible?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “tangent”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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