In mathematics, a tangent is a line that touches a curve at a single point without intersecting it. Figuratively, 'tangents' refer to sudden changes of subject or direction in speech or thought. These digressions often deviate from the central topic, exploring related ideas or personal anecdotes. They can be insightful or distracting, depending on their relevance and the listener's tolerance. The word can describe the direction in which something develops, or to move in a direction tangential, or only slightly related. Finally, tangents can refer to the relationship between two or more things that are connected or share some common ground. The plural form, 'tangents,' denotes multiple such deviations or points of contact.
Tangents meaning with examples
- During the presentation, the speaker went off on several tangents, discussing the history of the product's development and its impact on the company's marketing strategy before returning to the core topic. While interesting, the tangents disrupted the flow and caused listeners to lose sight of the primary message. This was caused by his enthusiasm for the subject and his passion to connect.
- Their conversation often veered off on tangents, jumping from politics to personal experiences and then back again, making it difficult to follow the thread of their discussion. However, these tangents were enjoyed by the participants, because they liked each others company, and it provided an opportunity to share their perspectives on a wider range of topics and get to know each other better.
- The novel's plot included numerous subplots and tangential storylines that enriched the narrative, offering depth and complexity to the main characters' motivations. These tangential developments gave the reader deeper insight to the primary story, and helped to inform the character's decision making. Each tangent added another layer of meaning.
- In geometry, we learned about the tangents to a circle, where each line touched the curve at precisely one point. The lessons allowed us to learn more about the angle of each tangent to the circle, and we were able to begin to understand the relationships between the two. The tangents, therefore, informed the reader, and allowed them to draw their own conclusions.