1570s, from Modern Latin parabola, from Greek parabole "parabola, comparison, analogy; application" (see parable), so called by Apollonius of Perga c. 210 B.C.E. because it is produced by &q [..]

a curve having every point an equal distance from a fixed point (the focus) and a fixed line (the directrix). • the graph of a quadratic equation. • one of the four conic sections.

Set of points equally distant from a focus and a directrix.

a type of conic section curve, any point of which is equally distant from a fixed focus point and a fixed straight line

The graph of a quadratic function. A parabola has a line of symmetry that passes through the maximum point if the graph opens downward or through the minimum point if the graph opens upward.

(n) a plane curve formed by the intersection of a right circular cone and a plane parallel to an element of the curve

N F |parabola (math.)

a U-shaped curve obtained by graphing a quadratic function

An open curve all points of which are equidistant from a fixed point, called the FOCUS, and a straight line. The limiting case occurs when the point is on the line, in which case the parabola becomes [..]