1
: a straight line cutting a curve at two or more points
2
: a straight line drawn from the center of a circle through one end of a circular arc to a tangent drawn from the other end of the arc
3
a
: a trigonometric function that for an acute angle is the ratio of the hypotenuse of a right triangle of which the angle is considered part and the leg adjacent to the angle
b
: a trigonometric function sec θ that is the reciprocal of the cosine for all real numbers θ for which the cosine is not zero and that is exactly equal to the secant of an angle of measure θ in radians
Dictionary Entries Near secant
Cite this Entry
“Secant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/secant. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
secant
noun
se·cant
ˈsē-ˌkant 
-kənt
1
: a straight line that intersects a curve at two or more points
2
: a trigonometric function that is the ratio between the hypotenuse in a right triangle and the side next to an acute angle
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share