Tan"gen*cy (?), n. The quality or state of being tangent; a contact or
touching.
Tan"gent (?), n. [L. tangens, - entis, p. pr. of tangere to touch; akin
to Gr. &?; having seized: cf. F. tangente. Cf. Attain, Contaminate,
Contingent, Entire, Tact, Taste, Tax, v. t.] (Geom.) A tangent line
curve, or surface; specifically, that portion of the straight line
tangent to a curve that is between the point of tangency and a given
line, the given line being, for example, the axis of abscissas, or a
radius of a circle produced. See Trigonometrical function, under
Function.
Artificial, or Logarithmic, tangent, the logarithm of the natural
tangent of an arc. — Natural tangent, a decimal expressing the length
of the tangent of an arc, the radius being reckoned unity. — Tangent
galvanometer (Elec.), a form of galvanometer having a circular coil and
a short needle, in which the tangent of the angle of deflection of the
needle is proportional to the strength of the current. — Tangent of an
angle, the natural tangent of the arc subtending or measuring the
angle. — Tangent of an arc, a right line, as ta, touching the arc of a
circle at one extremity a, and terminated by a line ct, passing from
the center through the other extremity o.
Tan"gent, a. [L. tangens, - entis, p. pr.] Touching; touching at a
single point; specifically (Geom.) meeting a curve or surface at a
point and having at that point the same direction as the curve or
surface; — said of a straight line, curve, or surface; as, a line
tangent to a curve; a curve tangent to a surface; tangent surfaces.
Tangent plane (Geom.), a plane which touches a surface in a point or
line. — Tangent scale (Gun.), a kind of breech sight for a cannon. —
Tangent screw (Mach.), an endless screw; a worm.
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Tan*gen"tal (?), a. (Geom.) Tangential.
Tan*gen"tial (?), a. (Geom.) Of or pertaining to a tangent; in the
direction of a tangent.
Tangential force (Mech.), a force which acts on a moving body in the
direction of a tangent to the path of the body, its effect being to
increase or diminish the velocity; — distinguished from a normal force,
which acts at right angles to the tangent and changes the direction of
the motion without changing the velocity. — Tangential stress. (Engin.)
See Shear, n., 3.
Tan*gen"tial*ly, adv. In the direction of a tangent.
Tan"ger*ine` (?), n. [Etymol. uncertain.] (Bot.) A kind of orange, much
like the mandarin, but of deeper color and higher flavor. It is said to
have been produced in America from the mandarin. [Written also
tangierine.]