tangent plane

noun

: the plane through a point of a surface that contains the tangent lines to all the curves on the surface through the same point

Word History

First Known Use

1856, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tangent plane was in 1856

Dictionary Entries Near tangent plane

Cite this Entry

“Tangent plane.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tangent%20plane. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!