Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Related Searches
Nearby Words
Definition of parallaxes - 5 dictionary results

par⋅al⋅lax

  [par-uh-laks]
Use parallaxes in a Sentence
–noun
1. the apparent displacement of an observed object due to a change in the position of the observer.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. an apparent change in the position of cross hairs as viewed through a telescope, when the focusing is imperfect.
Origin:
1585–95; < Gk parállaxis change, equiv. to parallak- (s. of parallássein to cause to alternate, equiv. to para- para- 1 + allássein to vary, akin to állos other; see else, allo- ) + -sis -sis

Related forms:
par⋅al⋅lac⋅tic  [par-uh-lak-tik] , adjective
par⋅al⋅lac⋅ti⋅cal⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To parallaxes
par·al·lax   (pār'ə-lāks')   


(click for larger image in new window)
n.  An apparent change in the direction of an object, caused by a change in observational position that provides a new line of sight.

[French parallaxe, from Greek parallaxis, from parallassein, to change : para-, among; see para-1 + allassein, to exchange (from allos, other; see al-1 in Indo-European roots).]
par'al·lac'tic (-lāk'tĭk) adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: par·al·lax
Pronunciation: 'par-&-"laks
Function: noun
: the apparent displacement or the difference in apparent direction of anobject as seen from two different points not on a straight line with the object 1/4 inches apart; yet the small parallax causedby the slightly different angle of vision enables us to see three-dimensional, plastic images and to judge distances accurately —Erwin Raisz>
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source
Medical Dictionary

parallax par·al·lax (pār'ə-lāks')
n.
The apparent displacement of an object caused by a change in the position from which it is viewed.

par'al·lac'tic (-lāk'tĭk) adj.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
Science Dictionary
parallax   (pār'ə-lāks')  Pronunciation Key 


(click for larger image in new window)

An apparent shift in the position of an object, such as a star, caused by a change in the observer's position that provides a new line of sight. 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.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see parallaxes on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way