Dictionary
Find
in
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Translations

Click to move up the list of words
SEbS
sebum
SEC
sec (1)
sec (2)
sec (3)
sec.
SECAM
secant
secateurs
secco
secede
Secession
secession
secessionism
Seckel pear
seclude
Click to move down the list of words
Print Preview
See pronunciation key
Search for "secant" in all of MSN Encarta
E-mail this entry
Blog about this entry on MSN Spaces
Download the MSN Encarta Right-Click Dictionary

secant

se·cant [ skənt ] (plural se·cants)


noun 
Definition:
 
1. straight line cutting curve: a straight line that intersects with a curve in two or more places

2. trigonometric function: the ratio of the hypotenuse to the side adjacent to a given angle in a right triangle

[Late 16th century. < Latin secant-, present participle of secare "cut"]
Advertisement

Also on Encarta
Englishtown: Learn English online
Our Partners
Also on MSN
Encarta Message Boards (© Rubberball/Jupiterimages)
Shopping
© 2009 Microsoft