parallax

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. An apparent shift in the position of two stationary objects relative to each other as viewed by an observer, due to a change in observer position.
  2. The angle of seeing of the astronomical unit.
verb
  1. To measure (a distance) based on parallax observations.
  2. To produce an illusion of levels of distance by shifting layers at different rates.

Pronunciation

/ˈpæɹ.əˌlæks/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-parallax.wav

Word forms

parallax parallaxes parallaxing parallaxed

Etymology

From Middle French parallaxe, from Ancient Greek παράλλαξις (parállaxis, “alteration”) from παραλλάσσω (parallássō, “to cause to alternate”) from ἀλλάσσω (allássō, “to alter”) from ἄλλος (állos, “other”). By surface analysis, par- + all- + -ax.

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