directrix

Di*rect"rix, n.; pl. E. Directrixes (, L. Directrices (. 1. A directress. [R.] Jer. Taylor. 2. (Geom.) (a) A line along which a point in another line moves, or which in any way governs the motion of the point and determines the position of the curve generated by it; the line along which the generatrix moves in generating a surface. (b) A straight line so situated with respect to a conic section that the distance of any point of the curve from it has a constant ratio to the distance of the same point from the focus.

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