[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

secant \se"cant\ s=e"ka^nt, a. l. secans, -antis, p. pr.
   of secare to cut. see section.
   cutting; dividing into two parts; as, a secant line.
   1913 webster
see also:
section 

[2] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

secant \secant\, n. cf. f. s'ecante. see secant, a.
   1. geom. a line that cuts another; especially, a straight
      line cutting a curve in two or more points.
      1913 webster

   2. trig. 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 of this line to the radius of the circle. see
      trigonometrical function, under function.
      1913 webster
see also:
secant trigonometrical function function 

[3] : WordNet (r) 2.0

secant
     n 1: a straight line that intersects a curve at two or more
          points
     2: ratio of the hypotenuse to the adjacent side of a
        right-angled triangle syn: sec
see also:
sec 

[4] : Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0

40 moby thesaurus words for "secant":
   air line, axis, beeline, chiasmal, chiasmic, chiastic, chord,
   crisscross, cross, crosscut, crossed, crossing, cut across,
   decussate, decussated, diagonal, diameter, direct line, directrix,
   edge, great-circle course, intersected, intersecting, normal,
   perpendicular, radius, radius vector, right line, segment,
   shortcut, side, straight, straight course, straight line,
   straight stretch, straightaway, streamline, tangent, transversal,
   vector

Secant >> S Words
Secant, definition of term: Secant
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