v. 1 tr. Math. (of a curve or surface) have contact of at least the second order with; have two branches with a common tangent, with each branch extending in both directions of the tangent. 2 v.intr. & tr. joc. kiss. 3 intr. Biol. (of a species etc.) be related through an intermediate species; have common characteristics with another or with each other. osculant adj. osculation n. osculatory adj.
[ L osculari kiss (as OSCULAR) ]