subtangent

[ suhb-tan-juh nt ]
/ sʌbˈtæn dʒənt /

noun Geometry.

the part of the x-axis cut off between the ordinate of a given point of a curve and the tangent at that point.

Origin of subtangent

First recorded in 1705–15; sub- + tangent

British Dictionary definitions for subtangent

subtangent
/ (sʌbˈtændʒənt) /

noun

geometry a segment of the x -axis lying between the x -coordinate of the point at which a tangent is drawn to a curve and the intercept of the tangent with the axis