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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 ellipse
2. rounded like an egg
3. characterized by extreme economy of expression or omission of superfluous elements
Familiarity information: ELLIPTIC used as an adjective is uncommon.
Dictionary entry details
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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