parabolic coordinate system [¦par·ǝ¦bäl·ik kō`ȯrd·ǝn·ǝt ´sis·tǝm] MATHEMATICS 1. A two-dimensional coordinate system determined by a system of confocal parabolas. 2. A three-dimensional coordinate system whose coordinate surfaces are the surfaces generated by rotating a plane containing a system of confocal parabolas about the axis of symmetry of the parabolas, together with the planes passing through the axis of rotation. |