Tangential

a.

1.

(Geom.) Of or pertaining to a tangent; in the direction of a tangent. Tangential force (Mech.) a force which acts on a moving body in the direction of a tangent to the path of the body, its effect being to increase or diminish the velocity; - distinguished from a normal force, which acts at right angles to the tangent and changes the direction of the motion without changing the velocity. Tangential stress (Engin.) See Shear, n., 3.

Adj.	1.	tangential - of superficial relevance if any; "a digressive allusion to the day of the week"; "a tangential remark" Synonyms: digressive
	2.	tangential - of or relating to or acting along or in the direction of a tangent; "tangential forces"

approaching, asymptotic, brushing, centripetal, centrolineal, concurrent, confluent, confocal, connivent, contacting, contingent, converging, digressive, divergent, extraneous, focal, glancing, grazing, impingent, impinging, in contact, irrelevant, meeting, mutually approaching, nudging, osculatory, peripheral, radial, radiating, rubbing, tangent, touching, uniting, unrelated