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parabola (n.)
"a curve commonly defined as the intersection of a cone with a plane parallel with its side," 1570s, from Modern Latin parabola, from Greek parabole "a comparison, parable," literally "a throwing beside," hence "a juxtaposition" (see parable), so called by Apollonius of Perga c. 210 B.C.E. because it is produced by "application" of a given area to a given straight line. It had a different sense in Pythagorean geometry. Related: Parabolic.
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Definitions of parabola from WordNet
Dictionary entries near parabola
par
par excellence
para-
Parabellum
parable
parabola
parabole
parabolic
paracentesis
parachronism
parachute