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Synonyms

hyperbola

American  
[hahy-pur-buh-luh] / haɪˈpɜr bə lə /

noun

Geometry.

  1. the set of points in a plane whose distances to two fixed points in the plane have a constant difference; a curve consisting of two distinct and similar branches, formed by the intersection of a plane with a right circular cone when the plane makes a greater angle with the base than does the generator of the cone. Equation: x 2 /a 2 − y 2 /b 2 = ±1.

hyperbola British  
/ haɪˈpɜːbələ /

noun

  1. a conic section formed by a plane that cuts both bases of a cone; it consists of two branches asymptotic to two intersecting fixed lines and has two foci. Standard equation: x ²/ a ² – y ²/ b ² = 1 where 2 a is the distance between the two intersections with the x -axis and b = a √( e ² – 1), where e is the eccentricity

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
hyperbola Scientific  
/ hī-pûr′bə-lə /

plural

hyperbolas

  1. A plane curve having two separate parts or branches, formed when two cones that point toward one another are intersected by a plane that is parallel to the axes of the cones.

hyperbola Cultural  

  1. In geometry, a curve having a single bend, with lines going infinitely far from the bend.

Discover More

The path of a comet that enters the solar system and then leaves forever is a hyperbolic curve (half of a hyperbola).

Etymology

Origin of hyperbola

1660–70; < New Latin < Greek hyperbolḗ the geometrical term, literally, excess. See hyperbole

Compare meaning

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

While the equations of an ellipse and a hyperbola are very similar, their graphs are very different.

From Textbooks • May 6, 2020

Since the x2 - term is positive, the hyperbola opens left and right.

From Textbooks • May 6, 2020

Sometimes the equation for a hyperbola needs to be first placed in standard form before we graph it.

From Textbooks • May 6, 2020

The circle, ellipse, parabola, and hyperbola are all formed by the intersection of a plane with a cone.

From Textbooks • Oct. 13, 2016

It is natural, therefore, that circle, ellipse, parabola, and hyperbola should all be looked upon as lines.

From The Teaching of Geometry by Smith, David Eugene

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.