1. touching or meeting at a single point
Usage: mathematics; geometry

Examples

• The osculating circle provides the best circular approximation to the curve at that point.
• In calculus, we study osculating planes that touch curves at specific points.
• The mathematician drew an osculating line that just touched the parabola.
• Osculating curves share the same tangent at their point of contact.
• The osculating sphere touches the surface without crossing through it.
• Engineers use osculating elements to describe orbital mechanics.