Geometry Regents Exam Prep - Practice Test & Study Guide for NY Regents

A chord is accurately defined as a segment connecting any two points on a circle. This means that it lies entirely within the circle and comprises two endpoints that rest on the circumference. Chords can vary in length; the longest chord of a circle is the diameter, which connects two points directly through the circle’s center.

The other definitions do not align with the properties of a chord. For example, a segment that touches the circle at one point describes a tangent, which only interacts with the circle at a single point. A line outside the circle refers to an external tangent or secant, which does not relate to the definition of a chord at all. Lastly, a line that passes through the center of the circle is specifically called a diameter, which is a type of chord but does not encompass the broader definition applicable to all chords.