tangent
n
1 (geometry 几) straight line that touches the outside of a curve but does not cross it 切线. =>illus at circle 见circle插图.2 (abbr 缩写 tan) (mathematics 数) (in a right-angled triangle) ratio of the sides opposite and adjacent to a given angle 正切. Cf 参看 cosine, sine.
3 (idm 习语) go/fly off at a `tangent change suddenly from one line of thought, action, etc to another 突然改变思想、 行动等.