parabolic

adjective

par·​a·​bol·​ic ˌper-ə-ˈbä-lik 

ˌpa-rə-

1

: expressed by or being a parable : allegorical

2

: of, having the form of, or relating to a parabola

motion in a parabolic curve

parabolically

ˌper-ə-ˈbä-li-k(ə-)lē 

ˌpa-rə-

adverb

Did you know?

The two distinct meanings of parabolic trace back to the development of Late Latin and New Latin. Late Latin is the Latin language used by writers in the third to sixth centuries. In that language, the word for "parable" was parabola—hence, the "parable" sense of parabolic. New Latin refers to the Latin used since the end of the medieval period, especially in regard to scientific description and classification. In New Latin, parabola names the same geometrical curve as it does in English. Both meanings of parabola were drawn from the Greek word for "comparison": parabolē.

Examples of parabolic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Consider slime mold that could be mistaken for makeshift parabolic antenna. —Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes, 20 Oct. 2024

Combined with a parabolic sidecut that’s tighter at the waist and longer toward the nose and tail, the Navigator’s contact points are naturally raised off the snow. —Drew Zieff, Outside Online, 27 Sep. 2024

These unique design features include domes, arches, vaults and parabolic curves, as well as reflecting the natural elements from the site's terrain. —Natalia Senanayake, Peoplemag, 26 Sep. 2024

Wire mesh would then unfold along the harpoon cables, creating a huge parabolic dish. —Matthew Hutson, The New Yorker, 24 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

(sense 1) Middle English parabolik, borrowed from Late Latin parabolicus, borrowed from Greek parabolikós "figurative," from parabolḗ "comparison, parable" + -ikos -ic entry 1; (sense 2) borrowed from New Latin parabolicus, from parabola parabola + -icus -ic entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

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