Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Ellipse
El-lipse′
(ĕl-lĭps′)
, Noun.
[Gr.
ἔλλειψις
, prop., a defect, the inclination of the ellipse to the base of the cone being in defect when compared with that of the side to the base: cf. F. ellipse
. See Ellipsis
.] 1.
(Geom.)
An oval or oblong figure, bounded by a regular curve, which corresponds to an oblique projection of a circle, or an oblique section of a cone through its opposite sides. The greatest diameter of the ellipse is the major axis, and the least diameter is the minor axis. See
Conic section
, under Conic
, and cf. Focus
. 3.
The elliptical orbit of a planet.
The Sun flies forward to his brother Sun;
The dark Earth follows wheeled in her
The dark Earth follows wheeled in her
ellipse
. Tennyson.
Webster 1828 Edition
Ellipse
ELLIPSE
,Noun.