Definitions for tangentialtænˈdʒɛn ʃəl

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Random House Webster's College Dictionary

tan•gen•tialtænˈdʒɛn ʃəl(adj.)

  1. pertaining to or of the nature of a tangent; being or moving in the direction of a tangent.

  2. incidental; peripheral.

  3. divergent or digressive:

    tangential remarks.

Origin of tangential:

1620–30

tan•gen′tial•ly(adv.)

Princeton's WordNet

  1. digressive, tangential(adj)

    of superficial relevance if any

    "a digressive allusion to the day of the week"; "a tangential remark"

  2. tangential(adj)

    of or relating to or acting along or in the direction of a tangent

    "tangential forces"

Wiktionary

  1. tangential(Adjective)

    Referring to a tangent, moving at a tangent to something.

  2. tangential(Adjective)

    Merely touching, positioned as a tangent.

  3. tangential(Adjective)

    Only indirectly related.

    That subject is tangential to our discussion, we can't let it distract us.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Tangential(adj)

    of or pertaining to a tangent; in the direction of a tangent


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