a straight line or plane that touches a curve or curved surface at a point, but if extended does not cross it at that point
切线,切面。
〈喻〉 完全不相干的想法或举动;离题
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Loretta's mind went off at a tangent .洛蕾塔的思想突然离题了。
【数】 正切。
(of a line or plane)touching, but not intersecting, a curve or curved surface
(线,平面)正切的。
"late 16th cent. (in sense 2 and as an adjective): from Latin