parabola [pəˈrab(ə)lə] (pl. parabolas 或 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 抛物面;抛物线
语源
late 16th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek parabolē 'placing side by side, application', from para- 'beside' + bolē 'a throw' (from the verb ballein)