cubical parabola

Parabola \Pa*rab"o*la\, n.; pl. {Parabolas}. [NL., fr. Gr. ?; --
   so called because its axis is parallel to the side of the
   cone. See {Parable}, and cf. {Parabole}.] (Geom.)
   (a) A kind of curve; one of the conic sections formed by the
       intersection of the surface of a cone with a plane
       parallel to one of its sides. It is a curve, any point of
       which is equally distant from a fixed point, called the
       focus, and a fixed straight line, called the directrix.
       See {Focus}.
   (b) One of a group of curves defined by the equation y =
       ax^{n} where n is a positive whole number or a positive
       fraction. For the {cubical parabola} n = 3; for the
       {semicubical parabola} n = 3/2. See under {Cubical}, and
       {Semicubical}. The parabolas have infinite branches, but
       no rectilineal asymptotes.
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Cubic \Cu"bic\ (k?"b?k), Cubical \Cu"bic*al\ (-b?-kal), a. [L.
   cubicus, Gr. ?????: cf. F. cubique. See {Cube}.]
   1. Having the form or properties of a cube; contained, or
      capable of being contained, in a cube.
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   2. (Crystallog.) Isometric or monometric; as, cubic cleavage.
      See {Crystallization}.
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   {Cubic equation}, an equation in which the highest power of
      the unknown quantity is a cube.

   {Cubic foot}, a volume equivalent to a cubical solid which
      measures a foot in each of its dimensions.

   {Cubic number}, a number produced by multiplying a number
      into itself, and that product again by the same number.
      See {Cube}.

   {Cubical parabola} (Geom.), two curves of the third degree,
      one plane, and one on space of three dimensions.
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