1. (n.) A line that cuts another; especially, a straight line intersecting a curve at two points.
2. (a.) Cutting; dividing into two parts; as, a secant line.
3. (n.) 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 line of this line to the radius of the circle. See Function.
Thesaurus Entries
air line, axis, beeline, chiasmal, chiasmic, chiastic, chord, crisscross, cross, crosscut, crossed, crossing, cut across, decussate, decussated, diagonal, diameter, direct line, directrix, edge, great-circle course, intersected, intersecting, normal, perpendicular, radius, radius vector, right line, segment, shortcut, side, straight, straight course, straight line, straight stretch, straightaway, streamline, tangent, transversal, vector
