tangential
Collocations
3VERB + TANGENTIAL
call, lies
TANGENTIAL + NOUN
narrative, patterns
PREP.
in, on
Definitions
adj
Referring to a tangent, moving at a tangent to something.
The meteor came in on a tangential orbit and exploded about 8 or 10 miles above the earth's surface, just south of the Arctic Circle.
A doorknob of whatever roundish shape is effectively a continuum of levers, with the axis of the latching mechanism—known as the spindle—being the fulcrum about which the turning takes place. Applying a force tangential to the knob is essentially equivalent to applying one perpendicular to a radial line defining the lever.
Merely touching, positioned as a tangent.
The archoplasm divides and forms a very large spindle which first lies tangential to the surface of the nucleus.
Only indirectly related.
That subject is tangential to our discussion, and we cannot let it distract us.
Thesaurus
Synonyms
adjective — of superficial relevance if any
Antonyms
Idioms & Phrases
Example Bank
6The meteor came in on a tangential orbit and exploded about 8 or 10 miles above the earth's surface, just south of the Arctic Circle.
WiktionaryA doorknob of whatever roundish shape is effectively a continuum of levers, with the axis of the latching mechanism—known as the spindle—being the fulcrum about which the turning takes place. Applying
WiktionaryThe archoplasm divides and forms a very large spindle which first lies tangential to the surface of the nucleus.
WiktionaryEven his everyday speech was an off-the-cuff, tangential, disjointed narrative.
Tatoeba · #717961The liquid flow submits the container to what we call tangential stress.
Tatoeba · #1165302When left to my own devices, I tend to daydream and get lost in a series of tangential thought patterns.
Tatoeba · #1955438