tractrix

noun

tractrix

noun

Etymology Formed after tractor, as if from a Latin *tractrīx (from trahō (“to pull”) + -trīx).

Geometry, Mathematics, Sciences A curve that satisfies the following property: that segment of the tangent line that lies between the point of tangency and a fixed line has length independent of the point of tangency chosen.

Derived terms: tractricoid

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.