conic section

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.

conic section

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

conic section

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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of conic section¹

First recorded in 1655–65

Example Sentences

For centuries the Greeks had been fascinated with conic sections.

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It’s a somewhat sad development in a subject that began in Euclid’s day with the splendidly visual concepts of points, lines, triangles, circles, conic sections and the like.

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Excluding the general group itself, every one of these leaves either a point, a line, or a conic section unaltered.

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At this time, or in speaking of the preliminary definitions, reference should be made to the conic sections.

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The comprehensive scheme of study included mathematics also, in which he advanced as far as the conic sections in the treatise of L’H�pital.

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