Category:Secant

Se"cant, a. Etym: [l. secans, -antis, p.pr. of secare to cut. See Section.]

Defn: cutting; divivding into two parts; as, a secant line.

Secant Secant, n. Etym: [cf. F. sécante. See secant, a.]

1. (geom.)

Defn: a line that cuts another; especially, a straight line cutting a Curve in two or more points.

2. (trig.)

Defn: a right line drawn from the center of a circle through one end Of a circular arc, and terminated by a tangent drawn from the other End; the number expressing the ratio line of this line to the radius Of the circle. See trigonometrical function, under function.