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parabolic

1
[ par-uh-bol-ik ]
/ ˌpær əˈbɒl ɪk /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR parabolic ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

having the form or outline of a parabola.
having a longitudinal section in the form of a paraboloid or parabola: a parabolic reflector.
of or relating to a parabola.

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Origin of parabolic

1
First recorded in 1695–1705; parabol(a) + -ic

Words nearby parabolic

parablast, parable, parablepsia, parables, parabola, parabolic, parabolic aerial, parabolic antenna, parabolic mirror, parabolize, paraboloid

Definition for parabolic (2 of 2)

parabolic2
[ par-uh-bol-ik ]
/ ˌpær əˈbɒl ɪk /

adjective

of, relating to, or involving a parable.
Sometimes par·a·bol·i·cal.

Origin of parabolic

2
1650–60; < Late Latin parabolicus metaphoric < Late Greek parabolikós figurative, equivalent to Greek parabol(ḗ) parable + -ikos -ic

OTHER WORDS FROM parabolic

par·a·bol·i·cal·ism, nounpar·a·bol·i·cal·ly, adverbnon·par·a·bol·i·cal, adjectivenon·par·a·bol·i·cal·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to parabolic

figurative, metaphorical, illustrative, emblematic, symbolizing

Example sentences from the Web for parabolic

British Dictionary definitions for parabolic (1 of 2)

parabolic1
/ (ˌpærəˈbɒlɪk) /

adjective

of, relating to, or shaped like a parabola
shaped like a paraboloida parabolic mirror

British Dictionary definitions for parabolic (2 of 2)

parabolic2

parabolical

/ (ˌpærəˈbɒlɪk) /

adjective

of or resembling a parable

Derived forms of parabolic

parabolically, adverb
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