Tangential
Definition, Meaning & Examples
Pronunciation /tænˈd͡ʒɛn.t͡ʃəl/ · Part of speech adjective
Quick meaning: Tangential is an adjective meaning Referring to a tangent, moving at a tangent to something.
Meaning
Referring to a tangent, moving at a tangent to something.
More Meanings
- Merely touching, positioned as a tangent.
- Only indirectly related.
Example Sentences
That subject is tangential to our discussion, and we cannot let it distract us.
The archoplasm divides and forms a very large spindle which first lies tangential to the surface of the nucleus.
The meteor came in on a tangential orbit and exploded about 8 or 10 miles above the earth's surface, just south of the Arctic Circle.
A doorknob of whatever roundish shape is effectively a continuum of levers, with the axis of the latching mechanism—known as the spindle—being the fulcrum about which the turning takes place. Applying a force tangential to the knob is essentially equivalent to applying one perpendicular to a radial line defining the lever.
Synonyms for tangential
Depending on context, synonyms include tangent, irrelevant, digressive.
Related Words
Related dictionary entries include digressive, irrelevant, peripheral, miscellaneous, incidental, accessory.
Related Dictionary Tools
Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.