tangent | BrE ˈtan(d)ʒ(ə)nt, AmE ˈtændʒənt | A. noun ① (touching line) 切线 qiēxiàn ▸ to fly off at a tangent «ball» 突然转向 ▸ to go off at or on a tangent figurative 突然转换话题 ② Mathematics (trigonometric function) 正切 zhèngqiē B. adjective attributive 正切的 zhèngqiē de |