elliptical

el·lip·ti·cal

adj \i-ˈlip-ti-kəl, e-\

Definition of ELLIPTICAL

1

: of, relating to, or shaped like an ellipse

2

a : of, relating to, or marked by ellipsis or an ellipsis b (1) : of, relating to, or marked by extreme economy of speech or writing (2) : of or relating to deliberate obscurity (as of literary or conversational style)

— el·lip·ti·cal·ly \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

Variants of ELLIPTICAL

el·lip·ti·cal or el·lip·tic \-tik\

Examples of ELLIPTICAL

1. The moon follows an elliptical path around the Earth.
2. a writer with an elliptical style

Origin of ELLIPTICAL

Greek elleiptikos defective, marked by ellipsis, from elleipein

First Known Use: 1656

Related to ELLIPTICAL

Synonyms: ambiguous, arcane, cryptic, dark, deep, Delphic, double-edged, obscure (or elliptic), enigmatic (also enigmatical), equivocal, fuliginous, inscrutable, murky, mysterious, mystic, nebulous, occult, opaque

Antonyms: accessible, clear, nonambiguous, obvious, plain, unambiguous, unequivocal

Related Words: abstruse, esoteric, recondite; cloaked, concealed, disguised, masked, shrouded; beclouded, bedimmed, befogged, clouded, cloudy, dim, faint, foggy, fuzzy, hazy, indistinct, indistinguishable, misty, muddy, obfuscatory, obnubilated, obscurant (or obscurantic), shaded, shadowlike, shadowy, sphinxlike; indefinite, inexact, inexplicit, noncommittal, questionable, unclear, uncertain, undefined, undetermined, vague; impenetrable, incomprehensible, indecipherable, inexplicable; eerie (also eery), uncanny, weird; impalpable, inappreciable, intangible, invisible; unanswerable, unknowable; baffling, bewildering, confounding, confusing, mystifying, perplexing, puzzling, unfathomable; circuitous, indirect, roundabout; complex, complicated, difficult, obtuse

Near Antonyms: comprehensible, fathomable, intelligible, knowable, legible, pellucid, understandable; bright, distinct, evident, self-evident, self-explanatory; certain, firm, strong, sure; defined, determined; direct, straightforward; definite, exact, explicit; appreciable, palpable, tangible, visible; blatant, patent, unmistakable

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Other Mathematics and Statistics Terms

abscissa, denominator, divisor, equilateral, exponent, hypotenuse, logarithm, oblique, radii, rhomb