Secant

[si:kәnt]

Definition

(noun.) ratio of the hypotenuse to the adjacent side of a right-angled triangle.

(noun.) a straight line that intersects a curve at two or more points.

Editor: Vito--From WordNet

Definition

(a.) Cutting; divivding into two parts; as, a secant line.

(a.) A line that cuts another; especially, a straight line cutting a curve in two or more points.

(a.) 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.

Checker: Lyman

Definition

adj. cutting: dividing.—n. a line that cuts another: a straight line from the centre of a circle to one extremity of an arc produced till it meets the tangent to the other extremity.—n. Sē′cancy.

Editor: Paula