What's the difference between tangent and touching?

Tangent


Definition:

  • (v. t.) A tangent line curve, or surface; specifically, that portion of the straight line tangent to a curve that is between the point of tangency and a given line, the given line being, for example, the axis of abscissas, or a radius of a circle produced. See Trigonometrical function, under Function.
  • (a.) Touching; touching at a single point
  • (a.) meeting a curve or surface at a point and having at that point the same direction as the curve or surface; -- said of a straight line, curve, or surface; as, a line tangent to a curve; a curve tangent to a surface; tangent surfaces.

Example Sentences:

  • (1) The association constants and the binding capacities of association of small molecules with macromolecules have been determined by the tangent analysis, the graphical analysis, and the computer data analysis, by trial and convergence of the Scatchard plot.
  • (2) Tangent-screen studies uncovered neurasthenic spiral fields superimposed on hysterical tubular contractions of both eyes.
  • (3) Two principles have to be considered: 1. the image of a curved surface will only show the surface area where the rays form a tangent to the surface; 2. in tomography the blurring of the image increases with an increase of the tomographic angle and the distance of the object to the plane in focus.
  • (4) Tangent-screen visual fields were compared with the fields determined by a newly acquired automated perimeter in 100 eyes of consecutive patients with glaucoma or suspected glaucoma.
  • (5) The mathematical method was more practical and overcame the variability of the tangent method.
  • (6) First the angle between the line drawn along the right upper lobe artery and the tangent drawn along the point of junction of superior and lateral borders of the right pulmonary artery was determined.
  • (7) Extracellular recordings were made from afferents to the Purkinje cells of the flocculus of monkeys either spontaneously making saccadic eye movements (saccades) or trained to fixate a small visual target projected on a tangent screen.
  • (8) Twelve of 16 dissatisified bifocal contact lens wearers (75%) were successfully fit with the Tangent Streak trifocal.
  • (9) In his four-star review for the Guardian, Michael Billington described the production as "an exuberantly inventive evening, one existing in its own right at a tangent to the original".
  • (10) The tangent values were calculated from the curves that correlate well with the degrees of nuclear cataract.
  • (11) We propose a correction, the hyperbolic tangent, to linearize the data over all sizes, and we discuss evolutionary reasons for the relatively small brain size of the largest vertebrates.
  • (12) With the manual (Goldmann) perimeter and the tangent screen, special statokinetic techniques help in both assessment and enhancement of patient reliability.
  • (13) The approximated curve of the corneal posterior curvature and the line tangent to the anterior surface of the iris were calculated as the anterior chamber angle.
  • (14) This algorithm, named 'tangent exponential' was demonstrated to converge for all initial conditions when the initial substrate concentration is positive.
  • (15) (4) The angle of the tangent to any segment of the curve of Spee to the plane of motion determines the optimal height and angulation of the cusps of the segment.
  • (16) The morphology of the facial surface can be described by an angle formed between the tangent at the point of bracket placement and the long axis of the crown.
  • (17) Enamel had a modulus which was approximately three to five times higher, and a lower loss tangent than those of dentin.
  • (18) Presently, by applying the considerations of Maxwell-Boltzmann statistics, the Langevin function is shown as the appropriate and justifiable sigmoid (instead of the conventional hyperbolic tangent function) to depict the bipolar nonlinear logic-operation enunciated by the collective stochastical response of artificial neurons under activation.
  • (19) Patients were treated with either tangential fields alone (n = 508) or tangents with a third field to the supraclavicular (SC) or SC-axillary (AX) region (n = 1116).
  • (20) 4.32pm: "I love Portuguese sardines," announces Kanjorski, going off at a slightly eccentric tangent.

Touching


Definition:

  • (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Touch
  • (a.) Affecting; moving; pathetic; as, a touching tale.
  • (prep.) Concerning; with respect to.
  • (n.) The sense or act of feeling; touch.

Example Sentences:

  • (1) On 9 January 2002, a few hours after Blair became the first western leader to visit Afghanistan's new post-Taliban leader, Hamid Karzai, an aircraft carrying the first group of MI5 interrogators touched down at Bagram airfield, 32 miles north of Kabul.
  • (2) He was very touched that President Nicolas Sarkozy came out to the airport to meet us, even after Madiba retired.
  • (3) Considerate touches includes the free use of cruiser bicycles (the best method of tackling the Palm Springs main drag), home-baked cookies … and if you'd like to get married, ask the manager: he's a minister.
  • (4) At first it looked as though the winger might have shown too much of the ball to the defence, yet he managed to gain a crucial last touch to nudge it past Phil Jones and into the path of Jerome, who slipped Chris Smalling’s attempt at a covering tackle and held off Michael Carrick’s challenge to place a shot past an exposed De Gea.
  • (5) Gove, who touched on no fewer than 11 policy areas, made his remarks in the annual Keith Joseph memorial lecture organised by the Centre for Policy Studies, the Thatcherite thinktank that was the intellectual powerhouse behind her government.
  • (6) In 120 consecutive patients who had colonic roentgenologic examination and no depressive sign, two had coccygeal and muscular pain at rectal touch.
  • (7) The Tories were seen as out of touch and for the few.
  • (8) Domino’s had been in touch with Driscoll on Thursday morning and was “working to make it up to him ... and to ensure he is not out of pocket for any expenses incurred”.
  • (9) A growing educated middle class is losing touch with apartheid history and seeking alternatives.
  • (10) Single cells in pairs or clusters of touching cells in each exposure group were examined with FRAP.
  • (11) Conroy, out at the ovarian cancer event we’ve already touched on, was unrepentent as he was chased down the corridor by reporters.
  • (12) "For tax evaders, she should turn to Pasok and New Democracy to explain to her why they haven't touched the big money and have been chasing the simple worker for two years."
  • (13) I tweet, check Facebook, chat with friends, keep in touch with colleagues, check in using Foursquare, use it to check work emails from home and organise notes using Evernote.
  • (14) 1-1 2.15am GMT 48 mins Giles Barnes is down again, turning his ankle under a challenge (but not actually touched by the tackle).
  • (15) It is concluded that chronic peripheral nerve section affects the anatomical and physiological mechanisms underlying the formation of light touch receptive fields of dorsal horn neurons in the lumbosacral cord of the adult cat, but that the resulting reorganization of receptive fields is spatially restricted.
  • (16) When the plane bringing his friend in touched down, they were greeted with a recorded welcome from the Queen telling them that they had now arrived in a safe country.
  • (17) We analyzed the trophoblast subpopulations which appear on touch smears of chorionic villi morphologically and immunohistochemically, using the uterine contents of 37 cases of induced abortion.
  • (18) Bill Clinton (@billclinton) Just touched down in Africa with @ChelseaClinton .
  • (19) Right now I think the discussion is not honest and practical, it is hysterical and political.” In contrast to the IOC, which did not contact McLaren, he said the International Paralympic Committee had been in close touch as it decides on whether to ban the Russian team.
  • (20) Rat pups from 12 litters were handled daily, once every three days, or never touched between postnatal Days 5 and 20.