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parabola

parabola

The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. | 2008 | Copyright

parabola , plane curve consisting of all points equidistant from a given fixed point (focus) and a given fixed line (directrix) (see illustration) . It is the conic section cut by a plane parallel to one of the elements of the cone. The axis of a parabola is the line through the focus perpendicular to the directrix. The vertex is the point at which the axis intersects the curve. The latus rectum is the chord through the focus perpendicular to the axis. Examples of this curve are the path of a projectile and the shape of the cross section of a parallel beam reflector.

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parabola

A Dictionary of Astronomy | 1997 | Copyright

parabola A type of curve whose ‘arms’ become parallel as they approach infinity, so that the curve never quite closes in on itself, defined mathematically as a conic section with an eccentricity of 1. It may be regarded as an ellipse in which the two foci are infinitely far apart, and is the limiting case between an ellipse and a hyperbola. Some comets have elliptical orbits that are so extended they are indistinguishable from parabolas.
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parabola

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology | 1996 | | Copyright

parabola (geom.) plane curve formed by the intersection of a cone by a plane parallel to a side of the cone. XVI. — modL. — Gr. parabolḗ juxtaposition, application; see prec.
So parabolic pert. to parable, metaphorical XVII. — late L. — late Gr.; pert. to a parabola XVIII. parabolical (in both senses) XVI.
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T. F. HOAD. "parabola." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

T. F. HOAD. "parabola." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-parabola.html

T. F. HOAD. "parabola." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-parabola.html

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parabola

World Encyclopedia | 2005 | Copyright

parabola Mathematical curve, a conic section traced by a point that moves so that its distance from a fixed point, the focus, is equal to its distance from a fixed straight line, the directrix. It may be formed by cutting a cone parallel to one side. The general equation of a parabola is y = ax2 + bx + c, where a, b, and c are constants.
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Parabola (Journal)

Encyclopedia of Occultism and Parapsychology | 2001 | Copyright

Parabola (Journal)

Journal of the Society for the Study of Myth & Tradition, concerned with exploring the inner being through myth and its manifestations. Published quarterly. Address: 656 Broadway, New York, NY 10012. Website: http://www.parabola.org/.

Sources:

Parabola Online. http://www.parabola.org/. March 8, 2000.
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parabola

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English | 2009 | Copyright

pa·rab·o·la / pəˈrabələ/ • n. (pl. -las or -lae / -lē/ ) a symmetrical open plane curve formed by the intersection of a cone with a plane parallel to its side. The path of a projectile under the influence of gravity ideally follows a curve of this shape.

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parabola

A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture | 2000 | | Copyright

parabola. Curve based on a conic section, that is the intersection of a cone with a plane parallel to its side. It resembles a three-centred arch, vertically emphasized.

Bibliography

Nicholson (1835)
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JAMES STEVENS CURL. "parabola." A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

JAMES STEVENS CURL. "parabola." A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O1-parabola.html

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parabola

Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes | 2007 | Copyright

parabola •areola, rubeola •Viola •dueller (US dueler), jeweller (US jeweler) •babbler, dabbler, parabola •labeller (US labeler) •dribbler, nibbler, quibbler, scribbler •libeller (US libeler) •hobbler, nobbler, squabbler, wobbler •bubbler •fumbler, mumbler, rumbler •burbler, hyperbola •bachelor •paddler, straddler •mandala • panhandler • meddler •ladler • wheedler •diddler, piddler, riddler, tiddler, twiddler •coddler, modeller (US modeler), toddler, twaddler, waddler •fondler, gondola •yodeller (US yodeler) •doodler •muddler, puddler •hurdler • waffler •shuffler, snuffler •haggler, straggler •mangler, wangler •finagler •giggler, wiggler, wriggler •smuggler, struggler •pergola • heckler •Agricola, Nicola, pickler, tickler, tricolour (US tricolor) •chronicler •snorkeller (US snorkeler) •chuckler •enameller (US enameler) •signaller (US signaler) •tunneller (US tunneler) •grappler • stapler •stippler, tippler •Coppola •gospeller (US gospeler) •cupola •caroller (US caroler) •Kerala •quarreller (US quarreler) •chancellor •penciller (US penciler) •whistler •battler, prattler, rattler, tattler •dismantler • startler •fettler, settler, settlor •belittler, victualler (US victualer) •hospitaller (US hospitaler) •bottler, throttler •hosteller (US hosteler) •caviller (US caviler), traveller (US traveler) •marveller (US marveler) •leveller (US leveler), reveller (US reveler) •driveller (US driveler), sniveller (US sniveler) •groveller (US groveler) •shoveler, shoveller •chiseller (US chiseler), sizzler •bamboozler, methuselah •guzzler

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Free newspaper and magazine articles

Parabolas: connection between algebraic and geometrical representations.
Magazine article from: Australian Senior Mathematics Journal; 7/1/2011
Parabola Announces Learning/Event Management Software.
PR Newswire; 11/11/2003
Galileo's trajectory. (Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei's theory on...
Magazine article from: R &amp; D; 4/1/1998

Facts and information from other sites

parabola images
parabola. Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain)

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