hyperboloid

noun

hy·​per·​bo·​loid hī-ˈpər-bə-ˌlȯid How to pronounce hyperboloid (audio)
: a quadric surface whose sections by planes parallel to one coordinate plane are ellipses while those sections by planes parallel to the other two are hyperbolas if proper orientation of the axes is assumed
hyperboloidal adjective

Examples of hyperboloid in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Not one but two tall monoliths now overlook the harbor: William Zeckendorf’s rooftop airport covers a substantial fraction of Manhattan’s western edge, and I.M. Pei’s pinch-waisted hyperboloid rises a hundred stories above Grand Central Terminal. Will Heinrich, New York Times, 21 Sep. 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hyperboloid.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1743, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hyperboloid was in 1743

Dictionary Entries Near hyperboloid

Cite this Entry

“Hyperboloid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hyperboloid. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

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