subtense noun. [sǝb'tɛns] E17.
[from mod. Latin subtensa (sc. linea line) fem. pa. pple of subtendere SUBTEND.]
Geometry. A subtending line; esp. the chord of an arc. Also, the angle subtended by a line at a point.

Comb.:
subtense method Surveying a method of tacheometry in which the angle at the instrument is variable and the distance base is either constant or specially measured.

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