TANGENCY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does tangency mean? 

• TANGENCY (noun)
  The noun TANGENCY has 2 senses:

1. the state of being tangent; having contact at a single point or along a line without crossing

2. (electronics) a junction where things (as two electrical conductors) touch or are in physical contact

  Familiarity information: TANGENCY used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• TANGENCY (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The state of being tangent; having contact at a single point or along a line without crossing

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Hypernyms ("tangency" is a kind of...):

contact (the state or condition of touching or of being in immediate proximity)

Derivation:

tangent (a straight line or plane that touches a curve or curved surface at a point but does not intersect it at that point)

Sense 2

Meaning:

(electronics) a junction where things (as two electrical conductors) touch or are in physical contact

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

contact; tangency

Context example:

they forget to solder the contacts

Hypernyms ("tangency" is a kind of...):

conjunction; junction (something that joins or connects)

Domain category:

electronics (the branch of physics that deals with the emission and effects of electrons and with the use of electronic devices)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "tangency"):

breaker point; distributor point; point (a contact in the distributor; as the rotor turns its projecting arm contacts them and current flows to the spark plugs)

electrical contact (contact that allows current to pass from one conductor to another)

p-n junction (the junction between a p-type semiconductor and an n-type semiconductor)

short; short circuit (accidental contact between two points in an electric circuit that have a potential difference)

sound bow (contact (the part of a bell) against which the clapper strikes)

pole; terminal (a contact on an electrical device (such as a battery) at which electric current enters or leaves)

tread (the part (as of a wheel or shoe) that makes contact with the ground)

contact arm; wiper; wiper arm (contact consisting of a conducting arm that rotates over a series of fixed contacts and comes to rest on an outlet)