tangential

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   of or relating to or acting along or in the direction of a tangent

   Tangential forces.

2. 2
   adj

   Referring to a tangent, moving at a tangent to something.

   The meteor came in on a tangential orbit and exploded about 8 or 10 miles above the earth's surface, just south of the Arctic Circle.

3. 3
   adj

   Merely touching, positioned as a tangent.

   The archoplasm divides and forms a very large spindle which first lies tangential to the surface of the nucleus.

4. 4
   adj

   Only indirectly related.

   That subject is tangential to our discussion, and we cannot let it distract us.

From tangent + -ial.

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