ecliptic

1 of 2

adjective

eclip·​tic i-ˈklip-tik 

: of or relating to the ecliptic or an eclipse

ecliptic

2 of 2

noun

: the great circle of the celestial sphere that is the apparent path of the sun among the stars or of the earth as seen from the sun : the plane of the earth's orbit extended to meet the celestial sphere

Examples of ecliptic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

This is because a planet's altitude in the sky is dependent in part on the inclination of the ecliptic relative to the horizon, which shifts throughout the year due to Earth's wobbling orbit. —Anthony Wood, Space.com, 31 May 2025

But because the moon and the planets move in orbits whose planes do not differ greatly from Earth's orbital plane, these bodies, when visible in our sky, always stay relatively close to the ecliptic line. —Joe Rao, Space.com, 27 Mar. 2025

Noun

When To See June’s ‘Strawberry Moon,’ The Lowest Full Moon Since 2006 Understanding The Moon’s Orbit Around Earth Earth's axis is tilted by 23.5 degrees with respect to the ecliptic, the path of the sun through the daytime sky, and, in effect, the plane of the solar system. —Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 7 June 2025

All of the naked-eye planets, as well as the moon, closely follow an imaginary line in the sky called the ecliptic. —Joe Rao, Space.com, 27 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English ekliptik, borrowed from Latin eclīpticus, borrowed from Greek ekleiptikós, from ekleípein "to be obscured (of a celestial body)" + -t-, verbal adjective ending + -ikos -ic entry 1 — more at eclipse entry 1

Noun

Middle English ekliptik, borrowed from Medieval Latin eclīptica (short for eclīptica līnea "ecliptic line"), from feminine of Latin eclīpticus ecliptic entry 1; so called because eclipses occur on or near the ecliptic

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for ecliptic

• elliptic
• apocalyptic
• cryptic
• diptych
• styptic
• triptych
• tryptic

Kids Definition

ecliptic

noun

eclip·​tic

i-ˈklip-tik

: the great circle of the celestial sphere on which the sun appears to move among the stars