The range of meaning of the term “parable” =
Gk. parabole parabol(http://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/nas/parabole.html) in the New Testament closely parallels that of the Hebrew masal [l;v’m] in the Old Testament and related Hebrew literature.
As well as referring to narrative parables, the term identifies similitudes ( Matt 13:33 ; B. Pes. 49a), allegories ( Ezek 17:2 ; 24:3 ; Matthew 13:18 Matthew 13:24 Matthew 13:36 ), proverbs ( Proverbs 1:1 Proverbs 1:6 ; Mark 3:23 ), riddles ( Psalm 78:2 ; Mark 7:17 ), and symbols or types ( Heb 9:9 )
"Parable" is a general term for a figurative saying.