parabola

 
Pronunciation: /pəˈrab(ə)lə/

noun (plural parabolas or parabolae /-liː/)

  • a symmetrical open plane curve formed by the intersection of a cone with a plane parallel to its side. The path of a projectile under the influence of gravity follows a curve of this shape.

Origin:

late 16th century: modern Latin, from Greek parabolē 'placing side by side, application', from para- 'beside' + bolē 'a throw' (from the verb ballein)