conic section

American  

noun

Geometry.

1. a curve formed by the intersection of a plane with a right circular cone; an ellipse, a circle, a parabola, or a hyperbola.

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conic section British  

noun

1. Often shortened to: conic.  one of a group of curves formed by the intersection of a plane and a right circular cone. It is either a circle, ellipse, parabola, or hyperbola, depending on the eccentricity, e , which is constant for a particular curve e = 0 for a circle; e <1 for an ellipse; e = 1 for a parabola; e>1 for a hyperbola

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conic section Scientific  

1. A curve formed by the intersection of a plane with a cone. Conic sections can appear as circles, ellipses, hyperbolas, or parabolas, depending on the angle of the intersecting plane relative to the cone's base.

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Etymology

Origin of conic section

First recorded in 1655–65

Example Sentences

In the equation on the left, the major axis of the conic section is horizontal, and in the equation on the right, the major axis is vertical.

From Textbooks • Mar. 30, 2016

If the plane is perpendicular to the axis of revolution, the conic section is a circle.

From Textbooks • Mar. 30, 2016

In particular, we assume that one of the foci of a given conic section lies at the pole.

From Textbooks • Mar. 30, 2016

The focal parameter of a conic section p is defined as the distance from a focus to the nearest directrix.

From Textbooks • Mar. 30, 2016

We are now almost able to see what the conic section has to do with a soap-bubble.

From Soap-Bubbles and the Forces Which Mould Them by Boys, C. V. (Charles Vernon)