parallax

[ par-uh-laks ]
/ ˈpær əˌlæks /

noun

the apparent displacement of an observed object due to a change in the position of the observer.
Astronomy. the apparent angular displacement of a celestial body due to its being observed from the surface instead of from the center of the earth (diurnal parallax or geocentric parallax) or due to its being observed from the earth instead of from the sun (annual parallax or heliocentric parallax). Compare parallactic ellipse.
the difference between the view of an object as seen through the picture-taking lens of a camera and the view as seen through a separate viewfinder.
an apparent change in the position of cross hairs as viewed through a telescope, when the focusing is imperfect.
Digital Technology. a 3D effect observed when images and other elements in the foreground of a screen move at a different rate than those in the background (often used attributively): parallax scrolling; Does this phone have parallax?

Origin of parallax

1585–95; < Greek parállaxis change, equivalent to parallak- (stem of parallássein to cause to alternate, equivalent to para- para-1 + allássein to vary, akin to állos other; see else, allo-) + -sis -sis

OTHER WORDS FROM parallax

par·al·lac·tic [par-uh-lak-tik] /ˌpær əˈlæk tɪk/, adjective par·al·lac·ti·cal·ly, adverb

Words nearby parallax

paralipomena, paralipomenon, paralipsis, parallactic ellipse, parallactic motion, parallax, parallax test, parallel, parallel bars, parallel circuit, parallel cousin

Example sentences from the Web for parallax

British Dictionary definitions for parallax

parallax
/ (ˈpærəˌlæks) /

noun

an apparent change in the position of an object resulting from a change in position of the observer
astronomy the angle subtended at a celestial body, esp a star, by the radius of the earth's orbit. Annual or heliocentric parallax is the apparent displacement of a nearby star resulting from its observation from the earth. Diurnal or geocentric parallax results from the observation of a planet, the sun, or the moon from the surface of the earth

Derived forms of parallax

parallactic (ˌpærəˈlæktɪk), adjective parallactically, adverb

Word Origin for parallax

C17: via French from New Latin parallaxis, from Greek: change, from parallassein to change, from para- 1 + allassein to alter

Medical definitions for parallax

parallax
[ păr′ə-lăks′ ]

n.

The apparent displacement of an object caused by a change in the position from which it is viewed.

Other words from parallax

par′al•lac′tic (-lăk′tĭk) adj.

Scientific definitions for parallax

parallax
[ păr′ə-lăks′ ]

A change in the apparent position of an object relative to more distant objects, caused by a change in the observer's line of sight towards the object. The parallax of nearby stars caused by observing them from opposite points in Earth's orbit around the Sun is used in estimating the stars' distance from Earth through triangulation.