Meaning & use
tangent
A straight line that touches a curve at one point without crossing into it, especially in geometry.
See it in a sentence
The engineer calculated the tangent to the circle at the exact point where the road curved away.
A tangent line touches the graph of the function without crossing through it at that point.
A note on using this word
In conversation, 'going off on a tangent' describes straying from the main topic, a common figurative extension of the geometric term.
Words with a similar meaning
This term is best learned through its definition and examples.
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Another way to use it
2. noun
A sudden digression from the main subject in conversation, writing, or thought.
She kept going off on a tangent about her vacation instead of finishing the report.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “tangent”, then compare your use with the examples above.