subtend

• POS: Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: sub=tend

CIDE DICTIONARY

subtend, v. t. [L. subtendere; sub under + tendere to stretch, extend. See Tend.].

 To extend under, or be opposed to; as, the line of a triangle which subtends the right angle; the chord subtends an arc.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

subtend, v.tr.
1 a (usu. foll. by at) (of a line, arc, figure, etc.) form (an angle) at a particular point when its extremities are joined at that point. b (of an angle or chord) have bounding lines or points that meet or coincide with those of (a line or arc).
2 Bot. (of a bract etc.) extend under so as to embrace or enfold.

Etymology

L subtendere (as SUB-, tendere stretch)

THESAURUS

subtend

bump heads, confront, contend, contrapose, contraposit, contrast, counteract, face, front, lie opposite, match, meet head-on, oppose, polarize, pose against, put in opposition, set over against, stand opposed, stand opposite

ROGET THESAURUS

subtend

Contraposition

VB be opposite, subtend.