elliptic

adj

1. (not-comparable)Of or pertaining to an ellipse.

   “Novv ſince the Planets move in Elliptick Orbits, in one of vvhoſe foci the Sun is, and by a Radius from the Sun deſcribe equal Area's in equal Times, vvhich no other Lavv of a Circulating Fluid, but the Harmonical Circulation can Account for, vve muſt find out a Lavv for the Paracentrical Motion, that may make the Orbits Elliptick.”

   “In this chapter, the history of solving elliptic problems by direct marching methods is reviewed.”

2. (not-comparable)Of or pertaining to a broad field of mathematics that originates from the problem of calculating arc lengths of an ellipse.

   “elliptic integral”

   “elliptic function”

   “elliptic curve”

3. (in-compounds, not-comparable)That has coefficients satisfying a condition analogous to the condition for the general equation for a conic section to be of an ellipse.

   “elliptic partial differential equation”

   “elliptic operator”

   “elliptic regularity”

4. (not-comparable)Oval, with a short or no point.
5. (not-comparable)Of, or showing ellipsis; having a word or words omitted; elliptical.

   “The message, which is elliptic, could be spelled out as: (Hello) Olive. This is Julian. I am here until you want to ring me.”

noun

1. An elliptical function, equation, path, etc.

   “The Planetary Paths I trace, / Exploring Realms of boundleſs Space; / Elliptics, Angles, Cubes, and Curves, / In me ſupply the Place of Nerves; […]”

   “Two men were smoking over a bottle of wine at one table; they were talking of parabolics and elliptics, and describing diagrams on the table with a wet finger; […]”

   “Diagrams geometric, on parchmental scroll; / Circles, ovals, elliptics and such, / He sure figures will tell what is inside the knoll, / And tho far under ground, he’s in touch / With the hidden deposits of mineral ore, / And lost channels ’neath mountains he feels: […]”

   “The fix points of hyperbolics and parabolics in F must lie on the fixed circle C, while the fixed points of elliptics in F are inverse with respect to C.”