Tangent vs. Tangible — What's the Difference?

In geometry, the tangent line (or simply tangent) to a plane curve at a given point is the straight line that "just touches" the curve at that point. Leibniz defined it as the line through a pair of infinitely close points on the curve.

Discernible by the touch; palpable

A line, curve, or surface meeting another line, curve, or surface at a common point and sharing a common tangent line or tangent plane at that point.

Possible to touch.

Abbr. tan The trigonometric function of an acute angle in a right triangle that is the ratio of the length of the side opposite the angle to the length of the side adjacent to the angle.

Possible to be treated as fact; real or concrete

A sudden digression or change of course

Possible to understand or realize

(Music) An upright pin in a keyboard instrument, especially in a clavichord, that rises to sound a string when a key is depressed and stops the string at a preset length to set the pitch.

(Law) Relating to or being property of a physical nature, such as land, objects, and goods.

Making contact at a single point or along a line; touching but not intersecting.

Something palpable or concrete.

(differential geometry) A straight line touching a curve at a single point without crossing it there.

Tangibles Property having a physical form.

(math) A function of an angle that gives the ratio of the sine to the cosine, in either the real or complex numbers. Symbols: tan, tg. Category:en:Trigonometric functions

; able to be touched or felt; perceptible by the sense of touch.

A topic nearly unrelated to the main topic, but having a point in common with it.

; able to be perceived.

(art) A visual interaction between two or more lines or edges that creates a perceived relationship between them, often in a way that the artist did not intend.

Able to be treated as fact; real or concrete.

(music) A small metal blade in a clavichord that strikes the strings to produce sound.

By the mind; understandable.

(geometry) Touching a curve at a single point but not crossing it at that point.

A physical object; something that can be touched.

Of a topic, only loosely related to a main topic.

Or concrete results.

Straight; not horizontally curved.

Perceptible to the touch; tactile; palpable.

A tangent line curve, or surface; specifically, that portion of the straight line tangent to a curve that is between the point of tangency and a given line, the given line being, for example, the axis of abscissas, or a radius of a circle produced. See Trigonometrical function, under Function.

Capable of being possessed or realized; readily apprehensible by the mind; real; substantial; evident.

Touching; touching at a single point

Perceptible by the senses especially the sense of touch;

A straight line or plane that touches a curve or curved surface at a point but does not intersect it at that point

Possible to be treated as fact;

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

(of especially business assets) having physical substance and intrinsic monetary value ;

Capable of being perceived by the senses or the mind; especially capable of being handled or touched or felt;

Having substance or material existence; perceptible to the senses;