from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Tangent \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.
[1913 Webster]
{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.
[1913 Webster]
[1913 Webster]