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Tangential

//tænˈd͡ʒɛn.t͡ʃəl// adj

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    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."

  2. 2
    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."

  3. 3
    Only indirectly related.

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

Adjective
  1. 1
    of superficial relevance if any wordnet
  2. 2
    of or relating to or acting along or in the direction of a tangent wordnet

Etymology

From tangent + -ial.

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