'Tangential' definitions:
Definition of 'tangential'
(from WordNet)
adjective
Of superficial relevance if any; "a digressive allusion to the day of the week"; "a tangential remark" [syn: digressive, tangential]
adjective
Of or relating to or acting along or in the direction of a tangent; "tangential forces"
Definition of 'Tangential'
From: GCIDE
- Tangential \Tan*gen"tial\, a. (Geom.) Of or pertaining to a tangent; in the direction of a tangent. [1913 Webster]
- Tangential force (Mech.), a force which acts on a moving body in the direction of a tangent to the path of the body, its effect being to increase or diminish the velocity; -- distinguished from a normal force, which acts at right angles to the tangent and changes the direction of the motion without changing the velocity.
- Tangential stress. (Engin.) See Shear, n., 3. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'tangential'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- approaching,
- asymptotic,
- brushing,
- centripetal,
- centrolineal,
- concurrent,
- confluent,
- confocal,
- connivent,
- contacting,
- contingent,
- converging,
- digressive,
- divergent,
- extraneous,
- focal,
- glancing,
- grazing,
- impingent,
- impinging,
- in contact,
- irrelevant,
- meeting,
- mutually approaching,
- nudging,
- osculatory,
- peripheral,
- radial,
- radiating,
- rubbing,
- tangent,
- touching,
- uniting,
- unrelated