Definitions

1. adjective

curved or bent like the arc of a bow or a parabola; especially having a U-shaped cross section

“The parabolic shape of the satellite dish helped it receive signals from space.”

2. noun

a curve or line having a U shape, especially one that is the graph of a quadratic function

“The parabola on the graph showed the relationship between the variables.”

3. noun

a shot in golf that curves upward and to the right for a right-handed golfer, or to the left for a left-handed golfer, after it leaves the club head

“He hit a beautiful parabolic shot that landed on the green.”

4. noun

a curve of a projectile under the sole influence of gravity

“The parabolic path of the ball was beautiful to watch.”