hyperbola

noun

hy·​per·​bo·​la hī-ˈpər-bə-lə How to pronounce hyperbola (audio)
plural hyperbolas or hyperbolae hī-ˈpər-bə-(ˌ)lē How to pronounce hyperbola (audio)
: a plane curve generated by a point so moving that the difference of the distances from two fixed points is a constant : a curve formed by the intersection of a double right circular cone with a plane that cuts both halves of the cone

Illustration of hyperbola

Illustration of hyperbola
  • AB CD axes
  • F F′ foci
  • xy zw asymptotes
  • h h′ h″ h′′′ hyperbola

Examples of hyperbola in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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When those arcs in the corners are drawn using hyperbolas, the total coverage is about 90.24%. Quanta Magazine, 28 June 2024 The rounded points are traced with hyperbolas — curves that shave off as much area as possible without messing with the packing. Quanta Magazine, 28 June 2024 There are only finitely many of these hyperbolas and lines to begin with, and two hyperbolas (or lines) can intersect in at most four points. Quanta Magazine, 1 Apr. 2024 On it, black and white hyperbolas formed a zebra-like pattern, indicating structures of some sort underground. WIRED, 28 Sep. 2023 The corresponding mathematical function is a hyperbola. Seriously Science, Discover Magazine, 2 Feb. 2018 Claira Chong can graph hyperbola but couldn't write a check. Karina Bland, The Arizona Republic, 22 Apr. 2021 This same relationship between monetary aggregates and the value of a currency (a hyperbola, for those who remember geometry) applies to other advanced economies and to other monetary measures such as M2 money supply. Douglas Carr, National Review, 14 Sep. 2020 The graphs of such curves are the conic sections — circles, parabolas, ellipses and hyperbolas. Quanta Magazine, 9 July 2013

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek hyperbolē

First Known Use

1668, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hyperbola was in 1668

Dictionary Entries Near hyperbola

Cite this Entry

“Hyperbola.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hyperbola. Accessed 11 Dec. 2024.

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