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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Elliptic \El*lip"tic\, Elliptical \El*lip"tic*al\, a. [Gr. ?:
cf. F. elliptique. See {Ellipsis}.]
1. Of or pertaining to an ellipse; having the form of an
ellipse; oblong, with rounded ends.
[1913 Webster]

The planets move in elliptic orbits. --Cheyne.
[1913 Webster]

The billiard sharp who any one catches,
His doom's extremely hard
He's made to dwell
In a dungeon cell
On a spot that's always barred.
And there he plays extravagant matches
In fitless finger-stalls
On a cloth untrue
With a twisted cue
And elliptical billiard balls!
--Gilbert and
Sullivan (The
Mikado: The
More Humane
Mikado Song)

2. Having a part omitted; as, an elliptical phrase.
[1913 Webster]

3. leaving out information essential to comprehension; so
concise as to be difficult to understand; obscure or
ambiguous; -- of speech or writing; as, an elliptical
comment.
[PJC]

{Elliptic chuck}. See under {Chuck}.

{Elliptic compasses}, an instrument arranged for drawing
ellipses.

{Elliptic function}. (Math.) See {Function}.

{Elliptic integral}. (Math.) See {Integral}.

{Elliptic polarization}. See under {Polarization}.
[1913 Webster]