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 motton or velocity,