adj
elliptical
ih-LIHP-tihk-uhl
adj
1
Shaped like an ellipse — a flattened, oval curve.
"The planet follows an elliptical orbit around its star."
2
Leaving out words or details, so that the meaning has to be inferred; deliberately brief.
"His elliptical answer left us none the wiser about his plans."
"She has an elliptical writing style that skips over obvious details."
noun
1
A gym machine that lets you walk or run in a smooth oval motion without impact.
"He does twenty minutes on the elliptical before lifting weights."
How to Use Elliptical
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishOval-shaped, or (for speech/writing) vague and indirect because things are left unsaid.
Common pairings
elliptical orbit
elliptical statement
ride the elliptical
Word Forms
more elliptical comparative, ellipticals plural, most elliptical superlative
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “elliptical”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The planet follows an _____ orbit around its star.
Etymology
From "ellipse" (an oval curve) plus the adjective ending "-al."