tangential Definition
tan·gen·tial (tan jen′s̸həl)
adjective
- of, like, or in the direction of a tangent
- drawn as a tangent
- going off at a tangent; diverging or digressing
- merely touching a subject, not dealing with it at length
tangential Related Forms
tan·gen′·tially adverb
tangential Synonyms
tangential Usage Examples
Modifies a noun
- velocity: The part of a star's total velocity that is perpendicular to the line of sight is called the tangential velocity.
- load: Direct forces in a frame due to concentrated tangential loads.
- force: Within the accuracy of these data, tangential forces due to surface friction may be neglected at all incidences.
- component: In other words, the tangential component of the velocity at the boundary must be zero.
- interest: In the meantime, the links below may be of tangential interest on some specific areas.
- relationship: His paintings have a roundabout, tangential relationship to the things that inspire them.
Modifying Another Word
- somewhat: Refer to the W3C documents for more about this, as it's somewhat tangential to the present topic.
- slightly: The core of the argument lies in Chapters 2 and 4, with Chapter 3 as an interesting, but slightly tangential addition.
- not: The vision would be from within, frontal not tangential.
- purely: Students must be careful not to include irrelevant or purely tangential material.
- too: If it is too tangential, no doubt you will rule me out of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker.
Used with adjective complement
seem: Thus, of the three remaining clusters, one -- cognitive neuroscience -- seems quite tangential here.
Browse dictionary entries near tangential
- ‹ tangent
- ‹ tangelo
- ‹ Tanganyika
- ‹ tang
- ‹ Taney
- ‹ tandoori
- ‹ tandoor
- ‹ tandem switch
- ‹ tandem
- ‹ Tancred
- tangerine ›
- tangible ›
- tangible asset ›
- tangible property ›
- Tangier ›
- tangle ›
- tangled ›
- tanglefoot ›
- tangly ›
- tango ›

