tangential
tangential — adjective
- tangentialpositive
- more tangentialcomparative
- most tangentialsuperlative
1. relating to a straight line that just touches the edge of a curve at a single po
relating to a straight line that just touches the edge of a curve at a single point without cutting across it
Gabriel drew a tangential line that touches the circle at exactly one point.
tangential line + touches a curve at one point
The students learned to calculate the tangential slope of a parabola at any point.
A tangential force acting on a spinning wheel changes its rotational speed gradually.
The satellite follows a tangential trajectory as it moves away from the planet.
2. only slightly related to the main subject being discussed, often in a way that t
only slightly related to the main subject being discussed, often in a way that takes attention away from the central topic
Theo kept bringing up tangential stories about his childhood instead of answering the question.
tangential + stories/points/remarks about unrelated topics
Lara's essay lost marks for including too many tangential details that did not support her argument.
During the budget meeting, a tangential debate about office furniture wasted nearly thirty minutes.
The journalist's question was so tangential that the politician asked her to return to the main issue.
- irrelevant
stronger than tangential; suggests no connection at all, while tangential implies a slight connection
- digressive
more formal, describes speech or writing that wanders from the topic
- peripheral
suggests something is on the edge or margin of the main concern
用法筆記
This sense is far more common in everyday speech and writing than the mathematical sense. It usually carries a mildly negative tone, suggesting the speaker or writer has gone off-topic or included irrelevant material. Common in academic feedback, meeting discussions, and editorial reviews.