PARABOLIC

parabolic. Parabolic, a. having the form or qualities of a parabola

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{ Par′a‐bol″ic (?), Par′a‐bol″ic‐al (?), } a. [[Gr. παραβολικόσ figurative: cf. F. parabolique. See Parable.]] 1. 1. Of the nature of a parable; expressed by a parable or figure; allegorical; as, parabolical instruction.
2. 2. [[From Parabola.]] (Geom.) (a) Having the form or nature of a parabola; pertaining to, or resembling, a parabola; as, a parabolic curve. (b) Generated by the revolution of a parabola, or by a line that moves on a parabola as a directing curve; as, a parabolic conoid.
Parabolic conoid, a paraboloid; a conoid whose directing curve is a parabola. See Conoid. — Parabolic mirror (Opt.), a mirror having a paraboloidal surface which gives for parallel rays (as those from very distant objects) images free from aberration. It is used in reflecting telescopes. — Parabolic spindle, the solid generated by revolving the portion of a parabola cut off by a line drawn at right angles to the axis of the curve, about that line as an axis. — Parabolic spiral, a spiral curve conceived to be formed by the periphery of a semiparabola when its axis is wrapped about a circle; also, any other spiral curve having an analogy to the parabola.