DICT.TW Dictionary Taiwan
El·lip·tic El·lip·tic·al a.
1. Of or pertaining to an ellipse; having the form of an ellipse; oblong, with rounded ends.
The planets move in elliptic orbits. --Cheyne.
The billiard sharp who any one catches,
His doom's extremely hard --
He's made to dwell
In a dungeon cell
On a spot that's always barred.
And there he plays extravagant matches
In fitless finger-stalls
On a cloth untrue
With a twisted cue
And elliptical billiard balls!
--Gilbert and Sullivan (The Mikado: The More Humane Mikado Song)
2. Having a part omitted; as, an elliptical phrase.
Elliptic chuck. See under Chuck.
Elliptic compasses, an instrument arranged for drawing ellipses.
Elliptic function. Math. See Function.
Elliptic integral. Math. See Integral.
Elliptic polarization. See under Polarization.
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elliptic
adj 1: containing or characterized by ellipsis; "the clause of
comparison is often elliptical"- G.O.Curme [syn: elliptical]
2: of a leaf shape; in the form of an ellipse
3: rounded like an egg [syn: egg-shaped, elliptical, oval,
ovate, oviform, ovoid, prolate]
4: characterized by extreme economy of expression or omission
of superfluous elements; "the dialogue is elliptic and
full of dark hints"; "the explanation was concise, even
elliptical to the verge of obscurity"- H.O.Taylor [syn: elliptical]