conchoid
[ kong-koid ]
/ ˈkɒŋ kɔɪd /
noun Geometry.
a plane curve such that if a straight line is drawn from a certain fixed point, called the pole of the curve, to the curve, the part of the line intersected between the curve and its asymptote is always equal to a fixed distance. Equation: r = b ± a sec(θ).
Words nearby conchoid
conchiolin,
conchita,
conchitis,
concho-,
conchobar,
conchoid,
conchoidal,
conchology,
conchos,
conchy,
concierge
Example sentences from the Web for conchoid
The conchoid has been employed by later mathematicians, notably Sir Isaac Newton, in the construction of various cubic curves.
Conchoid′al, pertaining to a conchoid: shell-like, applied to the fracture of a mineral; Concholog′ical, pertaining to conchology.
British Dictionary definitions for conchoid
conchoid
/ (ˈkɒŋkɔɪd) /
noun
geometry
a plane curve consisting of two branches situated about a line to which they are asymptotic, so that a line from a fixed point (the pole) intersecting both branches is of constant length between asymptote and either branch. Equation: (x – a)²(x ² + y ²) = b ² x ² where a is the distance between the pole and a vertical asymptote and b is the length of the constant segment