Subtend

Quick meaning: Subtend is a verb meaning (transitive, mathematics) To form the central angle of a circle underneath an arc.

Meaning

(transitive, mathematics) To form the central angle of a circle underneath an arc.

More Meanings

1. (botany, transitive) To stand beneath or close to, as a bract at the base of a flower.
2. (transitive, mathematics) To use an angle to delimit (mark off, enclose) part of a straight or curved line, for example an arc or the opposite side of a triangle.
3. (transitive, also mathematics) To extend or stretch opposite something; to be part of a straight or curved line that is opposite to and delimits an angle.

Example Sentences

A hypotenuse subtends the right angle of a right triangle.

A 43° angle subtends an arc of about 0.75 meters on a circle with a radius of 1 meter.

The points A and B on the circumference form the arc AB, which subtends the central angle θ.

An arc measuring about 0.75 meters on a circle with a radius of 1 meter subtends an angle of about 43°.

Word Forms

• subtends
• subtending
• subtended

Synonyms for subtend

Depending on context, synonyms include delimit.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include delimit, tangentialize, shade, subtilize, define, subtilise.

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