[ˈsɛk(ə)nt], (Noun)

Definitions:
- the ratio of the hypotenuse to the shorter side adjacent to an acute angle (in a right-angled triangle); the reciprocal of a cosine

- a straight line that cuts a curve in two or more parts


Phrases:

Origin:
late 16th century; from French sécante, based on Latin secare ‘to cut’