# secant

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈsiːkənt/

## Definitions
1. A straight line that intersects a curve at two or more points.
2. In a right triangle, the reciprocal of the cosine of an angle. Symbol: sec

## Etymology
From Latin secāns, present participle of secō (“to cut”).

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/secant