parallax
Parallax is defined as an object appearing as if it is positioned differently when it is looked at from different angles or different positions.
(noun)When you stand to one side of an object and it looks off-center and small and then you move to the other side of the object and it looks larger and centered, this is an example of parallax.
See parallax in Webster's New World College Dictionary
noun
- the apparent change in the position of an object resulting from the change in the direction or position from which it is viewed
- the amount of angular degree of such change: the parallax of an object may be used in determining its distance from the observer because smaller angles indicate greater distance
- Astron. the apparent difference in the position of a celestial object with reference to a fixed background when viewed from two distant locations having a triangulated base line equal to the radius of the earth ( or ) or equal to the radius of the earth's orbit ( or )
- the difference between the actual view covered by a camera lens and the apparent view seen through the viewfinder: this may be significant when the object is close to the camera
Origin: Fr parallaxe < Gr parallaxis < parallassein, to vary, decline, wander < para-, para- + allassein, to change < allos, other: see else
Related Forms:
- parallactic adjective
See parallax in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun
Origin:
Origin: French parallaxe
Origin: , from Greek parallaxis
Origin: , from parallassein, to change
Origin: : para-, among; see para-1
Origin: + allassein, to exchange (from allos, other; see al-1 in Indo-European roots)
.Related Forms:
- parˌal·lacˈtic (-lăkˈtĭk) adjective
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parallax
The apparent position of a star among more distant stars changes when viewed from opposite sides of the earth's orbit.
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