adj.
Pronunciation: tan- ' jen(t)-sh ə l
Function: adjective
Date: 1630
1 : of, relating to, or of the nature of a tangent
2 : acting along or lying in a tangent < tangential forces>
3 a : DIVERGENT , DIGRESSIVE b : touching lightly : INCIDENTAL , PERIPHERAL < tangential involvement> also : of little relevance <arguments tangential to the main point>
– tan · gen · tial · ly \ - ' jen(t)-sh( ə -)l ē \ adverb