/ pəˈræbələ; NAmE / noun
( geometry ) a curve like the path of an object thrown into the air and falling back to earth
► para·bol·ic / ˌpærəˈbɒlɪk; NAmE -ˈbɑːlɪk/ adjective :
parabolic curves
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WORD ORIGIN
late 16th cent.: modern Latin , from Greek parabolē placing side by side, application, from para- beside + bolē a throw (from the verb ballein ).