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hyperbola

Syllabification: (hy·per·bo·la)
Pronunciation: /hīˈpərbələ/

Definition of hyperbola

noun (plural hyperbolas or hyperbolae /-bəlē/)

  • a symmetrical open curve formed by the intersection of a circular cone with a plane at a smaller angle with its axis than the side of the cone.
  • Mathematics the pair of hyperbolas formed by the intersection of a plane with two equal cones on opposites of the same vertex.

Origin:

mid 17th century: modern Latin, from Greek huperbolē 'excess' (from huper 'above' + ballein 'to throw')

hyperbola in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of hyperbola in the British & World English dictionary