osculate
[ os-kyuh-leyt ]
/ ˈɒs kyəˌleɪt /
verb (used without object), os·cu·lat·ed, os·cu·lat·ing.
to come into close contact or union.
Geometry.
(of a curve) to touch another curve or another part of the same curve so as to have the same tangent and curvature at the point of contact.
verb (used with object), os·cu·lat·ed, os·cu·lat·ing.
to bring into close contact or union.
Geometry.
(of a curve) to touch (another curve or another part of the same curve) in osculation or close contact.
to kiss.
Origin of osculate
OTHER WORDS FROM osculate
os·cu·la·to·ry [os-kyuh-luh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] /ˈɒs kyə ləˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i/, adjective un·os·cu·lat·ed, adjectiveWORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH osculate
oscillate osculateWords nearby osculate
oscitancy,
oscitant,
osco-umbrian,
osculant,
oscular,
osculate,
osculating circle,
osculating plane,
osculation,
osculum,
osd
Example sentences from the Web for osculate
The circle is then said to “osculate” the curve, or to have “contact of the second order” with it at P.
British Dictionary definitions for osculate
osculate
/ (ˈɒskjʊˌleɪt) /
verb
usually jocular
to kiss
(intr)
(of an organism or group of organisms) to be intermediate between two taxonomic groups
geometry
to touch in osculation
Word Origin for osculate
C17: from Latin
ōsculārī to kiss; see
osculum