tangent

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tan|gent /t'ændʒənt/ (tangents)
1 [N-COUNT]
A tangent is a line that touches the edge of a curve or circle at one point, but does not cross it.
2 [PHRASE] V and N inflect
If someone goes off at a tangent, they start saying or doing something that is not directly connected with what they were saying or doing before.
The conversation went off at a tangent.

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