parabola

English

/pəˈɹæbələ/

noun
Definitions
  • (geometry) The conic section formed by the intersection of a cone with a plane parallel to a tangent plane to the cone; the locus of points equidistant from a fixed point (the focus) and line (the directrix).
  • (rhetoric) The explicit drawing of a parallel between two essentially dissimilar things, especially with a moral or didactic purpose. A parable.

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin parabola (comparison, later, speech, illustration, word, parable, likeness) derived from Ancient Greek παραβολή (comparison, parable).

Origin

Ancient Greek

παραβολή

Gloss

comparison, parable

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms