tangent
/ˈtændʒənt/ (bre, ipa) · [tˈændʒənt] /ˈtændʒənt/ (ame, ipa) · [tˈændʒənt] /ˈtan-jənt How to pronounce tangent (audio)/ (ame, mw)
tangent — 名詞
- tangentsingular
- tangentsplural
1. a line that meets a curve at just one point and does not pass across it there.
切線
與曲線只在一點相接的直線
a line that meets a curve at just one point and does not pass across it there.
The teacher drew a tangent to the circle beside point B.
老師在 B 點旁畫出那個圓的切線。
tangent to a circle
On Mira's graph, the tangent touched the curve only once.
在 Mira 的圖上，那條切線只碰到曲線一次。
The exam asked students to find the tangent at x equals two.
考試要學生求出 x 等於二時的切線。
During class, Tendai extended the tangent beyond the edge of the page.
上課時，Tendai 把那條切線延伸到紙張邊緣外。
- secant
in geometry, a secant cuts through the curve instead of only touching it
用法筆記
Usually names a line in geometry and often appears with to plus the curve or circle it touches.
常見錯誤
2. the number you get in a right triangle when you divide the side across from an a
正切
直角三角形中對邊除以鄰邊
the number you get in a right triangle when you divide the side across from an angle by the nearby side.
In homework, Lan found the tangent of thirty degrees first.
在作業裡，Lan 先求出了三十度的正切。
tangent of an angle
The calculator showed the tangent after Obi entered the angle.
Obi 輸入角度後，計算機就顯示出正切值。
Our tutor used tangent to compare the triangle's height and base.
我們的家教用正切來比較那個三角形的高和底。
Ritu checked the tangent before solving the roof-measure problem.
Ritu 在解屋頂測量題前先檢查了正切。
用法筆記
Used in trigonometry, usually with of plus an angle or when discussing right triangles.
常見錯誤
3. a sudden move away from the main topic into a different one.
離題；岔題
突然轉去談別的主題
a sudden move away from the main topic into a different one.
During lunch, Emma went off on a tangent about old game shows.
午餐時，Emma 突然岔題聊起老電視益智節目。
go off on a tangent
The host's tangent about airport food delayed the interview.
主持人那段關於機場食物的離題，讓訪談延後了。
Christopher's tangent about bicycle repairs confused the new staff members.
Christopher 那段關於修腳踏車的岔題讓新同事聽糊塗了。
One question sent the class on a tangent about school uniforms.
一個問題讓全班離題談起制服。
- digression
more formal and common in essays, lectures, and writing
- aside
often shorter and lighter, especially in speech
- detour
broader and also used for physical route changes
用法筆記
Most often appears in informal speech in the phrase go off on a tangent. It usually suggests someone has drifted too far from the main point.
常見錯誤
tangent — 形容詞
- tangentpositive
- more tangentcomparative
- most tangentsuperlative
1. touching a curve or a surface at only one point rather than crossing it there.
相切
與曲線或曲面只在一點相接
touching a curve or a surface at only one point rather than crossing it there.
At point C, the blue line is tangent to the circle.
在 C 點，那條藍線與圓相切。
be tangent to a circle
The engineer checked whether the road was tangent to the curved wall.
工程師檢查那條路是否與彎牆相切。
On the sketch, the line is tangent to the bowl near the top.
在草圖上，那條線在頂部附近與碗面相切。
Wren placed the ruler tangent to the round plate in the drawing.
Wren 在圖上把尺擺成與圓盤相切的位置。
- secant
describes a line that cuts through the curve instead of only touching it
用法筆記
Common in geometry, design, and engineering. It is usually followed by to plus the curve or surface being touched.
常見錯誤
2. touching at one point in a way that gives both shapes the same tangent there.
共切
在同一點有同一條切線
touching at one point in a way that gives both shapes the same tangent there.
At the middle point, the two curves are tangent to each other.
在中間那個點，兩條曲線彼此共切。
two curves are tangent to each other
The teacher showed that the two shapes are tangent at point A.
老師說明那兩個形狀在 A 點是共切的。
In Lucía's sketch, the circles looked tangent near the join.
在 Lucía 的草圖裡，那兩個圓在接合處附近看起來共切。
The guide explains when two graphs are tangent but not the same.
那本指南解釋兩條圖線何時會共切卻不相同。
用法筆記
Used when comparing two curves or surfaces that share the same direction at a point, rather than a single line touching one shape.
常見錯誤
3. drifting away from the main purpose so that it is not really relevant.
離題；無關
偏離重點，關聯不大
drifting away from the main purpose so that it is not really relevant.
The budget slide felt tangent to the parents' safety concerns.
那張預算投影片和家長的安全疑慮不太相干。
tangent to the main issue
Mert's long story about camping was tangent to our meeting.
Mert 那段露營長談和我們的會議很離題。
The last paragraph is interesting but tangent to the article's argument.
最後一段雖然有趣，卻和文章的論點不太相干。
The teacher skipped comments that seemed tangent to the lesson.
老師略過了那些看起來和課程不相干的評論。
- irrelevant
stronger and more general; often means not connected at all
- off-topic
more conversational and common in meetings or online discussions
- peripheral
suggests something sits at the edge rather than at the center
- relevant
directly connected to the point being discussed
用法筆記
Often follows to when saying an idea is only loosely connected to the main issue. It can sound formal or academic.