El-lip'tie or El-lip'tie-al, a.
a. [Fr. elliptique, Gr. ἐλλειπτικός, from ἐλλείπειν. See ELLIPSIS.]
Sense 1. Pertaining to an ellipse; having the form of an ellipse; oblong, with rounded ends.
The planets move in elliptical orbits. Cheyne.
Sense 2. Having a part omitted; defective; as, an elliptical phrase.
Elliptic compasses, an instrument for drawing ellipses by continued motion.