elliptical Hear it!

elliptical Definition

el·lip·ti·cal (e lipti kəl, i-)

adjective

  1. of, or having the form of, an ellipse, as some leaves
  2. of or characterized by ellipsis; with a word or words omitted, with obscure, incomplete constructions, etc.

Etymology: < Gr elleiptikos (see ellipse) + -al

elliptical Related Forms
el·lip·ti·cally adverb
elliptical Synonyms

elliptical

modif.

  1. Having the form of an ellipse

    oval, ovoid, egg-shaped; see oblong.

  2. Marked by omissions in speech or writing

    terse, cryptic, obscure, incomplete; see obscure 1, short 2, terse.

elliptical Usage Examples

Modifying Another Word

  • highly: FAST was launched on August 21, 1996 from a Pegasus rocket into a highly elliptical orbit.
  • slightly: The better known Bourdon gage works by allowing the pressure into a curved tube, itself of a slightly elliptical cross section.
  • roughly: Four roughly elliptical blobs of light in formation photographed through window of photo lab.
  • very: These are on very elliptical orbits, and almost all approach within 38 AU of the Sun.
  • somewhat: The real areole somewhat elliptical and hardly 1 to 2 mm large.
  • so: Interactions with Neptune and Uranus have made their orbits so elliptical.

Modifies a noun

  • orbit: These density waves are twisted by the elliptical orbits into spiral arms.
  • galaxy: The biggest type of galaxy in actual terms are a type called giant elliptical galaxies.
  • trainer: Monday I either run or do the elliptical trainer.
  • arc: We will not be needing any of these tricks here all we will need is the commands that make a dotted elliptical arc.
  • arch: The 1831 Middle Warehouse on the Bridgewater Canal, in Castlefield, has an elliptical arch over the holes for barges.
  • shape: Experts believe that the nose of the torpedo features what is likely to be a flat disk with a circular or perhaps elliptical shape.

Used with adjective complement

  • appear: This means that a perfect circle would appear elliptical on the screen.
  • become: This causes the circular orbit of the water to become elliptical.

Preposition: in

  • shape: Johannes Kepler discovered that the orbits of the planets were elliptical in shape rather than circular.

Browse dictionary entries near elliptical

  1. ellipsoid
  2. ellipsis
  3. ellipse
  4. Elliott Wave Theory
  5. Elliot
  6. Ellington
  7. Ellice Islands
  8. Ellesmere
  9. Ellen
  10. Ella
  1. ellipticity
  2. Ellis
  3. Ellis Island
  4. Ellison
  5. Ellsworth
  6. elm
  7. elm bark beetle
  8. elm leaf beetle
  9. Elman
  10. Elmer