English Dictionary

ELLIPTIC

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does elliptic mean? 

ELLIPTIC (adjective)
  The adjective ELLIPTIC has 3 senses:

1. (of a leaf shape) in the form of an ellipseplay

2. rounded like an eggplay

3. characterized by extreme economy of expression or omission of superfluous elementsplay

  Familiarity information: ELLIPTIC used as an adjective is uncommon.


 Dictionary entry details 


ELLIPTIC (adjective)


Sense 1

Meaning:

(of a leaf shape) in the form of an ellipse

Similar:

simple; unsubdivided ((botany) of leaf shapes; of leaves having no divisions or subdivisions)

Derivation:

ellipticity (the property possessed by a round shape that is flattened at the poles)


Sense 2

Meaning:

Rounded like an egg

Synonyms:

egg-shaped; elliptic; elliptical; oval; oval-shaped; ovate; oviform; ovoid; prolate

Similar:

rounded (curving and somewhat round in shape rather than jagged)

Derivation:

ellipse (a closed plane curve resulting from the intersection of a circular cone and a plane cutting completely through it)

ellipticity (the property possessed by a round shape that is flattened at the poles)


Sense 3

Meaning:

Characterized by extreme economy of expression or omission of superfluous elements

Synonyms:

elliptic; elliptical

Context example:

the explanation was concise, even elliptical to the verge of obscurity

Similar:

concise (expressing much in few words)


 Context examples 


The leaves are lanceolate to elliptic, 10-20 cm long and 1.5-10 cm broad.

(Echinacea, NCI Thesaurus)



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