The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Parabola \Pa*rab"o*la\, n.; pl. Parabolas. [NL., fr. Gr. ?; --
   so called because its axis is parallel to the side of the
   cone. See Parable, and cf. Parabole.] (Geom.)
   (a) A kind of curve; one of the conic sections formed by the
       intersection of the surface of a cone with a plane
       parallel to one of its sides. It is a curve, any point of
       which is equally distant from a fixed point, called the
       focus, and a fixed straight line, called the directrix.
       See Focus.
   (b) One of a group of curves defined by the equation y =
       ax^n where n is a positive whole number or a positive
       fraction. For the cubical parabola n = 3; for the
       semicubical parabola n = 3/2. See under Cubical, and
       Semicubical. The parabolas have infinite branches, but
       no rectilineal asymptotes.
       [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Cubic \Cu"bic\ (k?"b?k), Cubical \Cu"bic*al\ (-b?-kal), a. [L.
   cubicus, Gr. ?????: cf. F. cubique. See Cube.]
   1. Having the form or properties of a cube; contained, or
      capable of being contained, in a cube.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. (Crystallog.) Isometric or monometric; as, cubic cleavage.
      See Crystallization.
      [1913 Webster]

   Cubic equation, an equation in which the highest power of
      the unknown quantity is a cube.

   Cubic foot, a volume equivalent to a cubical solid which
      measures a foot in each of its dimensions.

   Cubic number, a number produced by multiplying a number
      into itself, and that product again by the same number.
      See Cube.

   Cubical parabola (Geom.), two curves of the third degree,
      one plane, and one on space of three dimensions.
      [1913 Webster]