In math it has a precise meaning. It is what is also sometimes called "perpendicular".
2 vectors are orthogonal if their dot product is zero. (i.e. at right angles to each other) I've seen people informally use this word as if it meant something akin to "independent" or "very different" cs -- [email protected] http://www.kernel-panic.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/kplug-list
