osculate

[ os-kyuh-leyt ]

verb (used without object)

, os·cu·lat·ed, os·cu·lat·ing.

1. to come into close contact or union.
2. Geometry. (of a curve) to touch another curve or another part of the same curve so as to have the same tangent and curvature at the point of contact.

verb (used with object)

, os·cu·lat·ed, os·cu·lat·ing.

1. to bring into close contact or union.
2. Geometry. (of a curve) to touch (another curve or another part of the same curve) in osculation or close contact.
3. to kiss.

osculate

/ ˈɒskjʊˌleɪt /

verb

1. humorous.
   to kiss
2. intr (of an organism or group of organisms) to be intermediate between two taxonomic groups
3. geometry to touch in osculation

Other Words From

• os·cu·la·to·ry [os, -ky, uh, -l, uh, -tawr-ee, -tohr-ee], adjective
• un·oscu·lated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of osculate¹

1650–60; < Latin ōsculātus (past participle of ōsculārī to kiss), equivalent to ōscul ( um ) kiss, literally, little mouth ( osculum ) + -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of osculate¹

C17: from Latin ōsculārī to kiss; see osculum

Example Sentences

The circle is then said to “osculate” the curve, or to have “contact of the second order” with it at P.

From Project Gutenberg