cotangent

[ koh-tan-juh nt, koh-tan- ]
/ koʊˈtæn dʒənt, ˈkoʊˌtæn- /

noun Trigonometry.

(in a right triangle) the ratio of the side adjacent to a given angle to the side opposite.
the tangent of the complement, or the reciprocal of the tangent, of a given angle or arc. Abbreviation: cot, ctn
Also co·tan [koh-tan] /ˈkoʊˌtæn/.

Origin of cotangent

First recorded in 1625–35, cotangent is from the New Latin word cotangent- (stem of cotangēns). See co-, tangent

OTHER WORDS FROM cotangent

co·tan·gen·tial [koh-tan-jen-shuh l] /ˌkoʊ tænˈdʒɛn ʃəl/, adjective

Words nearby cotangent

cot, cot case, cot death, cotabato, cotan, cotangent, cotc, cote, coteach, cotehardie, cotemporary

British Dictionary definitions for cotangent

cotangent
/ (kəʊˈtændʒənt) /

noun

(of an angle) a trigonometric function that in a right-angled triangle is the ratio of the length of the adjacent side to that of the opposite side; the reciprocal of tangent Abbreviation: cot, cotan, ctn

Derived forms of cotangent

cotangential (ˌkəʊtænˈdʒɛnʃəl), adjective

Scientific definitions for cotangent

cotangent
[ kō-tăn′jənt ]

The ratio of the length of the adjacent side of an acute angle in a right triangle to the length of the opposite side. The cotangent is the inverse of the tangent.
The ratio of the ordinate to the abscissa of the endpoint of an arc of a unit circle centered at the origin of a Cartesian coordinate system, the arc being of length x and measured counterclockwise from the point (1, 0) if x is positive or clockwise if x is negative.
A function of a number x, equal to the cotangent of an angle whose measure in radians is equal to x.