Definition of parallax
: the apparent displacement or the difference in apparent direction of an object as seen from two different points not on a straight line with the object; especially : the angular difference in direction of a celestial body as measured from two points on the earth's orbit
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Recent Examples of parallax from the Web
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The phenomena, also known as parallax, allowed scientists to determine how elevated or sunken the features imaged by their Long-Range Reconnaissance Imager (LORRI) on New Horizons were.
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Measuring these shifts, or parallaxes, lets astronomers calculate the stars’ actual positions and movements through the galaxy with great precision, a field of study called astrometry that Gaia and its predecessor Hipparcos have revitalized.
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By carefully directing light, Sharp's display uses a filter called a parallax barrier to transform that blur into 3-D magic – no lame eyewear required.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'parallax.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of parallax
Middle French parallaxe, from Greek parallaxis, from parallassein to change, from para- + allassein to change, from allos other
Medical Dictionary
parallax
playMedical Definition of parallax
: the apparent displacement or the difference in apparent direction of an object as seen from two different points not on a straight line with the object motion parallax governs the way objects appear to move when the eyes or head are shifted—Edmund Andrews
Learn More about parallax
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See words that rhyme with parallax Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about parallax
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