elliptical
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el·lip·tic
(ĭ-lĭp′tĭk) or el·lip·ti·cal (-tĭ-kəl)adj.
1. Of, relating to, or having the shape of an ellipse.
2. Containing or characterized by ellipsis.
3.
a. Of or relating to extreme economy of oral or written expression.
b. Marked by deliberate obscurity of style or expression.
[New Latin ellīpticus, from Greek elleiptikos, defective, from elleipsis, a falling short, ellipsis; see ellipsis.]
el·lip′ti·cal·ly adv.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
elliptical
(ɪˈlɪptɪkəl) orelliptic
adj
Also (for senses 1, 2): elliptic 1. (Mathematics) relating to or having the shape of an ellipse
2. (Grammar) relating to or resulting from ellipsis
3. (Literary & Literary Critical Terms) (of speech, literary style, etc)
a. very condensed or concise, often so as to be obscure or ambiguous
b. circumlocutory or long-winded
elˈliptically adv
elˈlipticalness n
Usage: The use of elliptical to mean circumlocutory should be avoided as it may be interpreted wrongly as meaning condensed or concise
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
el•lip•ti•cal
(ɪˈlɪp tɪ kəl)adj. Also, el•lip′tic.
1. pertaining to or having the form of an ellipse.
2. pertaining to or marked by grammatical ellipsis.
3.
a. characterized by extreme economy of expression in speech or writing.
b. ambiguous; cryptic; obscure.
el•lip′ti•cal•ly, adv.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
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| Adj. | 1. | elliptical - rounded like an egg rounded - curving and somewhat round in shape rather than jagged; "low rounded hills"; "rounded shoulders" |
| 2. | elliptical - 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 concise - expressing much in few words; "a concise explanation" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
elliptical
ellipticadjective
1. oval, egg-shaped, ovoid, ovate, ellipsoidal, oviform the moon's elliptical orbit
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
Translations
ellipseformetelliptisk
elliptikus
sporöskjulaga
eliptyczny
eliptický
elliptisk
elips biçiminde
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
elliptical
[ɪˈlɪptɪkəl] adj (= oval) [shape, arch] → elliptique; [orbit] → elliptique
(= indirect) [remark] → elliptique
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
elliptical
[ɪˈlɪptɪk/əl] elliptic [ɪˈlɪptɪk] adj → ellittico/aCollins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
ellipse
(iˈlips) noun a geometrical figure that is a regular oval.
elˈliptical adjectiveKernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.