SECANT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does secant mean? 

• SECANT (noun)
  The noun SECANT has 2 senses:

1. a straight line that intersects a curve at two or more points

2. ratio of the hypotenuse to the adjacent side of a right-angled triangle

  Familiarity information: SECANT used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SECANT (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A straight line that intersects a curve at two or more points

Classified under:

Nouns denoting two and three dimensional shapes

Hypernyms ("secant" is a kind of...):

straight line (a line traced by a point traveling in a constant direction; a line of zero curvature)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Ratio of the hypotenuse to the adjacent side of a right-angled triangle

Classified under:

Nouns denoting relations between people or things or ideas

Synonyms:

sec; secant

Hypernyms ("secant" is a kind of...):

circular function; trigonometric function (function of an angle expressed as a ratio of the length of the sides of right-angled triangle containing the angle)