parallax

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”).

• IPA^(key): /ˈpæɹ.əˌlæks/

parallax (countable and uncountable, plural parallaxes)

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.
   • 1685, J. Flamsteed, Philosophical Transactions, XV, p. 1217:

     […] Heliocentrick places, to which the Parallaxes being applied, give the Geocentrick.

   • 2008, Bernard Perron, Mark J. P. Wolf, The Video Game Theory Reader 2, page 157:

     Planes farther back on the z-axis scroll more slowly than those in front of them, producing a parallax effect. Early games with parallax scrolling tended to have their action taking place all in the forefront plane […]

2. (astronomy) The angle of seeing of the astronomical unit.

parallax (third-person singular simple present parallaxes, present participle parallaxing, simple past and past participle parallaxed)

1. (transitive) To measure (a distance) based on parallax observations.
2. (animation) To produce an illusion of levels of distance by shifting layers at different rates.

Borrowed from Middle French parallaxe, from Latin parallaxis, from Ancient Greek παράλλαξις (parállaxis).

• IPA^(key): /ˌpaː.rɑˈlɑks/

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• Hyphenation: pa‧ral‧lax
• Rhymes: -ɑks

parallax m (plural parallaxen)

1. parallax

• sterparallax
• zonsparallax