Chapter Paperweight to Parachute of P by Webster's Dictionary (1913 Edition)

1. Of the nature of a parable; expressed by a parable or figure; allegorical; as, parabolical instruction.

2. [From Parabola.] (Geom.) (a) Having the form or nature of a parabola; pertaining to, or resembling, a parabola; as, a parabolic curve. (b) Generated by the revolution of a parabola, or by a line that moves on a parabola as a directing curve; as, a parabolic conoid.

Parabolic conoid, a paraboloid; a conoid whose directing curve is a parabola. See Conoid. — Parabolic mirror (Opt.), a mirror having a paraboloidal surface which gives for parallel rays (as those from very distant objects) images free from aberration. It is used in reflecting telescopes. — Parabolic spindle, the solid generated by revolving the portion of a parabola cut off by a line drawn at right angles to the axis of the curve, about that line as an axis. — Parabolic spiral, a spiral curve conceived to be formed by the periphery of a semiparabola when its axis is wrapped about a circle; also, any other spiral curve having an analogy to the parabola.

Parabolically
(Par`a*bol"ic*al*ly) adv.

1. By way of parable; in a parabolic manner.

2. In the form of a parabola.

Paraboliform
(Par`a*bol"i*form) a. [Parabola + -form.] Resembling a parabola in form.

Parabolism
(Pa*rab"o*lism) n. [From Parabola.] (Alg.) The division of the terms of an equation by a known quantity that is involved in the first term. [Obs.]

Parabolist
(Pa*rab"o*list) n. A narrator of parables.

Paraboloid
(Pa*rab"o*loid) n. [Parabola + -oid: cf. F. paraboloïde.] (Geom.) The solid generated by the rotation of a parabola about its axis; any surface of the second order whose sections by planes parallel to a given line are parabolas.

The term paraboloid has sometimes been applied also to the parabolas of the higher orders. Hutton.

Paraboloidal
(Par`a*bo*loid"al) a. Of, pertaining to, or resembling, a paraboloid.

Parabronchium
(||Par`a*bron"chi*um) n.; pl. Parabronchia [NL. See Para-, Bronchia.] (Anat.) One of the branches of an ectobronchium or entobronchium.

Paracelsian
(Par`a*cel"si*an) a. Of, pertaining to, or in conformity with, the practice of Paracelsus, a Swiss physician of the 15th century. Ferrand.

Paracelsian
(Par`a*cel"si*an), n. A follower of Paracelsus or his practice or teachings. Hakewill.

Paracelsist
(Par`a*cel"sist) n. A Paracelsian.

Paracentesis
(||Par`a*cen*te"sis) n. [L., fr. Gr. fr. to pierce at the side, to tap.] (Med.) The perforation of a cavity of the body with a trocar, aspirator, or other suitable instrument, for the evacuation of effused fluid, pus, or gas; tapping.

Paracentric
(Par`a*cen"tric Par`a*cen"tric*al) a. [Pref. para- + centric, - ical: cf. F. paracentrique.] Deviating from circularity; changing the distance from a center.

Paracentric curve (Math.), a curve having the property that, when its plane is placed vertically, a body descending along it, by the force of gravity, will approach to, or recede from, a fixed point or center, by equal distances in equal times; — called also a paracentric. — Paracentric mottonor velocity,