What does "osculatory" mean?

Osculatory: (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.