Hy`per*bol"ic (?), Hy`per*bol"ic*al (?), a. [L. hyperbolicus, Gr. : cf. F. hyperbolique.]
1. Math.
Belonging to the hyperbola; having the nature of the hyperbola.
2. Rhet.
Relating to, containing, or of the nature of, hyperbole; exaggerating or diminishing beyond the fact; exceeding the truth; as, an hyperbolical expression.
"This
hyperbolical epitaph."
Fuller.
Hyperbolic functions Math., certain functions which have relations to the hyperbola corresponding to those which sines, cosines, tangents, etc., have to the circle; and hence, called hyperbolic sines, hyperbolic cosines, etc. -- Hyperbolic logarithm. See Logarithm. -- Hyperbolic spiral Math., a spiral curve, the law of which is, that the distance from the pole to the generating point varies inversely as the angle swept over by the radius vector.
© Webster 1913.