\Se"cant\, a. [L. secans, -antis, p. pr. of secare to
cut. See {Section}.]
Cutting; divivding into two parts; as, a secant line.

\Secant\, n. [Cf. F. s['e]cante. See {Secant}, a.]
1. (Geom.) A line that cuts another; especially, a straight
   line cutting a curve in two or more points.
2. (Trig.) 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 {Trigonometrical function}, under {Function}.