Definitions for: Ellipse

[n] a closed plane curve resulting from the intersection of a circular cone and a plane cutting completely through it; "the sums of the distances from the foci to any point on an ellipse is constant"

Webster (1913) Definition: El*lipse", n. [Gr. ?, prop., a defect, the inclination
of the ellipse to the base of the cone being in defect when
compared with that of the side to the base: cf. F. ellipse.
See Ellipsis.]
1. (Geom.) An oval or oblong figure, bounded by a regular
curve, which corresponds to an oblique projection of a
circle, or an oblique section of a cone through its
opposite sides. The greatest diameter of the ellipse is
the major axis, and the least diameter is the minor axis.
See Conic section, under Conic, and cf. Focus.

2. (Gram.) Omission. See Ellipsis.

3. The elliptical orbit of a planet.

The Sun flies forward to his brother Sun; The dark
Earth follows wheeled in her ellipse. --Tennyson.

Synonyms: oval

See Also: circle, conic, conic section

Try our:
Scrabble Word Finder

Scrabble Cheat

Words With Friends Cheat

Hanging With Friends Cheat

Scramble With Friends Cheat

Ruzzle Cheat

Related Resources:
animals.net
animals starting with b
animals begin with w