Secant
Secant (sē"kant) , adjective
[Latin secans, -antis, present participle of secare to cut. See Section.]
Cutting; dividing into two parts; as, a secant line.
Secant , noun
[Compare French sécante. See Secant, a.]
1.
(Geometry) A line that cuts another; especially, a straight line cutting a curve in two or more points.
2.
(Trigonometry) A right line drawn from the center of a circle through one end of a circular arc, and terminated by a tangent drawn from the other end; the number expressing the ratio of this line to the radius of the circle. See Trigonometrical function, under Function.