as in oval
a shape that resembles a flattened circle
The teacher drew an ellipse on the chalkboard that intended to illustrate the moon's orbit around the Earth.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ellipse
But the four-ellipse diagram doesn’t have rotational symmetry.
—
Jack Murtagh, Scientific American, 14 Jan. 2025
All planets orbit stars in an ellipse.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes, 4 Jan. 2025
Perihelion occurs because the Earth’s path around the sun is not a perfect circle, but rather an ellipse, whereby the distance between the planet and the sun changes during the year.
—Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 21 Dec. 2024
Since the moon’s orbital path around Earth is a slight ellipse, there’s a near-point (perigee) and a far-point (apogee) every month.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for ellipse
Jack Murtagh, Scientific American, 14 Jan. 2025
All planets orbit stars in an ellipse.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes, 4 Jan. 2025
Perihelion occurs because the Earth’s path around the sun is not a perfect circle, but rather an ellipse, whereby the distance between the planet and the sun changes during the year.
—Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 21 Dec. 2024
Since the moon’s orbital path around Earth is a slight ellipse, there’s a near-point (perigee) and a far-point (apogee) every month.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for ellipse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ellipse
Noun
-
When the indoor building at Davis closes at 7 p.m., the outdoor oval remains open until sunset.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
7 May 2025
-
Aurora is typically seen in polar regions at around latitudes of 70 degrees north and south, but during strong geomagnetic conditions the auroral oval can bulge, with displays then seen as far as 40 degrees north and south.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
7 May 2025
Noun
-
Grocery prices have specifically been a concern for U.S. shoppers, after egg prices continued to rise in March, brought about in part by a severe bird flu outbreak.—
Rebecca Schneid,
Time,
15 May 2025
-
Beans, eggs, fresh fruits and vegetables, lean red meat, and poultry are good sources.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
15 May 2025
Noun
-
Images from the satellite sent back to Earth first show the sun in its entirety, before a large dark orb—the moon—passes by, blocking almost a quarter of the star from view.—
Mohammed Soliman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Apr. 2025
-
The lamplights still smiled like yellow orbs, and the cold bit just enough to feel on their cheeks, but the dusting of snow had sucked away all the usual exhaust and smoke.—
Lizz Schumer,
People.com,
3 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ellipse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ellipse. Accessed 22 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share