el·lip·ti·cal
i-ˈlip-ti-kəl 
e-
variants
or elliptic
i-ˈlip-tik
e-
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)
plural ellipticals
1
: elliptical galaxy
In Hubble's scheme, galaxies are divided into ellipticals and spirals.—
Roberto G. Abraham et al.
Roberto G. Abraham et al.2
: elliptical trainer
Ellipticals move in a smooth, oval motion, like riding a bike standing up, and offer great features like your beloved treadmill.—Monique Savin
Monique SavinSynonyms
Examples of elliptical in a Sentence
Adjective
The moon follows an elliptical path around the Earth.
a writer with an elliptical style
Recent Examples on the WebCharles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2024
Along with the tombs, the archaeologists uncovered burn or ash pits that had a circular or elliptical shape and were made from gray and black soil.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 15 May 2024
Even using a 750-meter transmitter, a receiver station in France or the northern United States would fill an elliptical field covering more than 34 square kilometers.
—IEEE Spectrum, 9 May 2024
The five-day mission will launch SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft into an elliptical orbit around Earth, from where the private astronauts will collect data and conduct various research and experiments.
—Passant Rabie / Gizmodo, Quartz, 6 May 2024
Imagine, for instance, that a spacecraft is following an elliptical orbit around Jupiter, influenced by gravity from Europa.
—Leila Sloman, WIRED, 5 May 2024
The space rock has an elliptical orbit that takes it past the orbit of the planet Mars and in between the orbits of Venus and Mercury.
—USA TODAY, 15 Apr. 2024
The pair are now slated to launch on an Indian PSLV rocket in September and ultimately enter a highly elliptical, 600-by-60,530-kilometer orbit.
—IEEE Spectrum, 10 Apr. 2024
Cycle three: Because the moon’s elliptical orbit draws it nearer and farther away from Earth, the moon also oscillates its apparent size and speed in the skies over Earth, a cycle that takes about 27.5546 days.
—Joshua Sokol, Quanta Magazine, 5 Apr. 2024
Dennis Overbye, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2024
The resort’s fitness center, open 24 hours, includes treadmills, ellipticals, and free weights.
—Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 1 Nov. 2023
How to shop for an elliptical during Cyber Monday As SELF has previously reported, your budget and living space should be top-of-mind when shopping for ellipticals.
—Sara Coughlin, SELF, 28 Nov. 2022
Though most under-desk ellipticals can execute this task, the Cubii JR1 does it phenomenally.
—Alyssa Brascia, Peoplemag, 21 July 2023
Zen Moments After a workout in the gym (treadmills, ellipticals and free weights are a few things available), a trip to the Cloud 9 Spa is a just reward.
—Dwight Brown, Essence, 11 July 2023
The Winner Hotel de Russie, a Rocco Forte Hotel
With terraces overlooking Piazza del Popolo — one of the most impressive squares (well, ellipticals) in Italy — Hotel de Russie, a Rocco Forte Hotel, is a classic Roman favorite with an unexpected secret.
—Nina Ruggiero, Travel + Leisure, 11 July 2023
This under-desk elliptical is excellent for those who seek easygoing pedaling.
—Kevin Cortez, Popular Mechanics, 9 Feb. 2023
This under-the-desk bike quietly glides like an elliptical without sacrificing space, thanks to its compact size (24.5 x 17 inches).
—Katrina Cossey, Verywell Health, 26 Jan. 2023
Adjective
And McPherson’s approach is curiously oblique and elliptical.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2024
Along with the tombs, the archaeologists uncovered burn or ash pits that had a circular or elliptical shape and were made from gray and black soil.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 15 May 2024
Even using a 750-meter transmitter, a receiver station in France or the northern United States would fill an elliptical field covering more than 34 square kilometers.
—IEEE Spectrum, 9 May 2024
The five-day mission will launch SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft into an elliptical orbit around Earth, from where the private astronauts will collect data and conduct various research and experiments.
—Passant Rabie / Gizmodo, Quartz, 6 May 2024
Imagine, for instance, that a spacecraft is following an elliptical orbit around Jupiter, influenced by gravity from Europa.
—Leila Sloman, WIRED, 5 May 2024
The space rock has an elliptical orbit that takes it past the orbit of the planet Mars and in between the orbits of Venus and Mercury.
—USA TODAY, 15 Apr. 2024
The pair are now slated to launch on an Indian PSLV rocket in September and ultimately enter a highly elliptical, 600-by-60,530-kilometer orbit.
—IEEE Spectrum, 10 Apr. 2024
Cycle three: Because the moon’s elliptical orbit draws it nearer and farther away from Earth, the moon also oscillates its apparent size and speed in the skies over Earth, a cycle that takes about 27.5546 days.
—Joshua Sokol, Quanta Magazine, 5 Apr. 2024
Noun
In the modern universe galaxies seem to come in two basic forms: featureless, roundish clouds called ellipticals, and flat, spidery discs like our Milky Way home.
—Dennis Overbye, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2024
The resort’s fitness center, open 24 hours, includes treadmills, ellipticals, and free weights.
—Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 1 Nov. 2023
How to shop for an elliptical during Cyber Monday As SELF has previously reported, your budget and living space should be top-of-mind when shopping for ellipticals.
—Sara Coughlin, SELF, 28 Nov. 2022
Though most under-desk ellipticals can execute this task, the Cubii JR1 does it phenomenally.
—Alyssa Brascia, Peoplemag, 21 July 2023
Zen Moments After a workout in the gym (treadmills, ellipticals and free weights are a few things available), a trip to the Cloud 9 Spa is a just reward.
—Dwight Brown, Essence, 11 July 2023
The Winner Hotel de Russie, a Rocco Forte Hotel
With terraces overlooking Piazza del Popolo — one of the most impressive squares (well, ellipticals) in Italy — Hotel de Russie, a Rocco Forte Hotel, is a classic Roman favorite with an unexpected secret.
—Nina Ruggiero, Travel + Leisure, 11 July 2023
This under-desk elliptical is excellent for those who seek easygoing pedaling.
—Kevin Cortez, Popular Mechanics, 9 Feb. 2023
This under-the-desk bike quietly glides like an elliptical without sacrificing space, thanks to its compact size (24.5 x 17 inches).
—Katrina Cossey, Verywell Health, 26 Jan. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'elliptical.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near elliptical
Cite this Entry
“Elliptical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elliptical. Accessed 20 May. 2024.
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