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Elliptical

//ɪˈlɪp.tɪ.kəl// adj, noun

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    In a shape of, or reminding of, an ellipse; oval.

    "Having admitted that the projectile was describing an orbit around the moon, this orbit must necessarily be elliptical; science proves that it must be so."

  2. 2
    Of, or showing ellipsis; having a word or words omitted.

    "If he is sometimes elliptical and obscure, it is because he has so much to tell us."

  3. 3
    Concise, condensed.

    "Browning's dark and elliptical mode of speech, like his love of the grotesque, was simply a characteristic of his, a trick of his temperament, and had little or nothing to do with whether what he was expressing was profound or superficial."

  4. 4
    Elliptic. rare
Adjective
  1. 1
    characterized by extreme economy of expression or omission of superfluous elements wordnet
  2. 2
    rounded like an egg wordnet
Noun
  1. 1
    An elliptical galaxy.
  2. 2
    An elliptical trainer.

Etymology

Etymology 1

From elliptic + -al, from Ancient Greek ἐλλειπτικός (elleiptikós), from ἐλλείπω (elleípō, “I leave out, omit”).

Etymology 2

From elliptic + -al, from Ancient Greek ἐλλειπτικός (elleiptikós), from ἐλλείπω (elleípō, “I leave out, omit”).

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