Definition of Parabola

pa·rab·o·la

pəˈrabələ/

noun

noun: parabola; plural noun: parabolae; plural noun: parabolas

1. 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.

   
   

   Origin
   

   late 16th century: modern Latin, from Greek parabolē ‘placing side by side, application,’ from para- ‘beside’ + bolē ‘a throw’ (from the verb ballein ).