Dictionary › E › ellipse

ellipse

2 syllables
Quick answer

As a noun, ellipse means a closed curve, the locus of a point such that the sum of the distances from that point to two other fixed points (called the foci of the ellipse) is constant. As a verb, it means remove from a phrase a word which is grammatically needed, but which is clearly understood without having to be stated.

Meanings of ellipse

2 meanings

noun

  1. geometryA closed curve, the locus of a point such that the sum of the distances from that point to two other fixed points (called the foci of the ellipse) is constant; equivalently, the conic section that is the intersection of a cone with a plane that does not intersect the base of the cone.

verb

  1. grammarTo remove from a phrase a word which is grammatically needed, but which is clearly understood without having to be stated.

    “In B's response to A's question:- (A: Would you like to go out?, B: I'd love to), the words that are ellipsed are go out.”

Meanings from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Open English WordNet (CC BY 4.0).

Synonyms by meaning

noun: a closed plane curve resulting from the intersection of a…

Words that rhyme with ellipse

All rhymes →
lipsshipschipstipstripshipsslipseclipseclipsstripsripswhipsskipsflipsgripsdrips

For word games

e1
l1
l1
i1
p3
s1
e1
Scrabble & Words With Friends: valid word9 points before bonuses.7 letters.
Unscramble these letters

Nearby words