parabolic

¹

[ par-uh-bol-ik ]

adjective

1. having the form or outline of a parabola.
2. having a longitudinal section in the form of a paraboloid or parabola:

   a parabolic reflector.

3. of or relating to a parabola.

parabolic

²

[ par-uh-bol-ik ]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or involving a parable.

parabolic

¹

/ ˌpærəˈbɒlɪk /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or shaped like a parabola
2. shaped like a paraboloid

   a parabolic mirror

parabolic

²

/ ˌpærəˈbɒlɪk /

adjective

1. of or resembling a parable

Derived Forms

• ˌparaˈbolically, adverb

Other Words From

• para·boli·cal·ism noun
• para·boli·cal·ly adverb
• nonpar·a·boli·cal adjective
• nonpar·a·boli·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of parabolic¹

First recorded in 1695–1705; parabol(a) + -ic

Origin of parabolic²

1650–60; < Late Latin parabolicus metaphoric < Late Greek parabolikós figurative, equivalent to Greek parabol ( ḗ ) parable + -ikos -ic

Example Sentences

At the four-minute mark, the capsule will reach the peak of its parabolic flight and then begin to descend back into the atmosphere.

From Time

He wasn’t really offering a voyage into space, but a parabolic ballistic shot to the edge of space and, after a fleeting few minutes of weightlessness, a glide back to earth with spectacular views.

From The Daily Beast

They’ll also go on parabolic flights that simulate weightlessness.

From MIT Technology Review

While a parabolic dish has the useful property of being sensitive to a fairly large area of sky, if a candidate signal is detected, there is no way of knowing exactly where it came from.

From Singularity Hub 

Bitcoin has made parabolic runs upward before, notably December 2017 and mid-2019, before major tumbles.

From Fortune

Farther from the center they become parabolic, but they are quite good over the entire plate, 3¼ by 4¼ inches.

From Project Gutenberg

Its depth at the crown is 33 ft., and its centre line follows nearly the parabolic line of pressures.

From Project Gutenberg

In spans over 200 ft. it is economical to have one horizontal boom and one polygonal (approximately parabolic) boom.

From Project Gutenberg

The posterior are intermixed with round and square pieces, and the extremity of the armour near the tail is of a parabolic figure.

From Project Gutenberg

We use a small atomic cavity radiator at one end of which is a rough relux parabolic filter.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• figurative
• metaphorical