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

From our point of view, Aldebaran lies in the ecliptic, or the path along the sky that the sun, moon and planets appear to take. —Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Sep. 2024

Regulus is one of the four bright stars often closely visited by the moon and planets because it’s aligned with the ecliptic—the solar system's plane. —Jamie Carter, Forbes, 9 Sep. 2024

Noun

The two locations where the moon crosses the ecliptic are called nodes. —Jamie Carter, Forbes, 17 Sep. 2024

Eclipses happen because the moon’s orbital around Earth intercepts what astronomers call the ecliptic—the apparent path the sun takes through our daytime sky. —Jamie Carter, Forbes, 2 Sep. 2024

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

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