secant
/ˈsiːkənt/ noun, adjective
Forms secants
- noun (geometry) A straight line that intersects a curve at two or more points.
- noun (trigonometry) In a right triangle, the reciprocal of the cosine of an angle. Symbol: sec
- adjective That cuts or divides.
Synonyms
Etymology
From Latin secāns, present participle of secō (“to cut”).
Webster’s 1913
- adjective Cutting; divivding into two parts; as, a secant line.
- noun A line that cuts another; especially, a straight line cutting a curve in two or more points.
- noun A right line drawn from the center of a circle through one end of a circular arc, and terminated by a tangent drawn from the other end; the number expressing the ratio line of this line to the radius of the circle. See Trigonometrical function, under Function.
Etymology [L. secans, -antis, p.pr. of secare to cut. See Section.]
Etymology [Cf. F. sécante. See Secant, a.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “secant”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details