The Collaborative International Dictionary
Osculatory circle
Osculatory \Os"cu*la*to*ry\, a.
Of or pertaining to kissing; kissing. ``The osculatory ceremony.''
--Thackeray.-
(Geom.) Pertaining to, or having the properties of, an osculatrix; capable of osculation; as, a circle may be osculatory with a curve, at a given point.
Osculatory circle. (Geom.) See Osculating circle of a curve, under Circle.
Osculatory plane (to a curve of double curvature), a plane which passes through three successive points of the curve.
Osculatory sphere (to a line of double curvature), a sphere passing through four consecutive points of the curve.