noun
osculation
Contact between curves or surfaces at a point where their tangents agree.
The diagram shows osculation where two curves share a tangent.
Etymology
Latin osculatio means kissing. Geometry uses the contact image for curves or surfaces that touch with agreeing tangents, as if lightly kissing at the meeting point.
More examples
- Their shared tangent helps us locate the point of osculation.
- Students compare osculation with a crossing of two curves.
- The two surfaces exhibit osculation at their point of contact.
Forms
osculation · osculations
osculate verb — Touch at a point with matching tangents.
Similar words
- tangency
- Describes shared tangent contact without implying closer local agreement.
- contact
- Means touching generally, without requiring agreement between tangents.