ecliptic
Use Ecliptic in a sentence
tɪk noun
1.
Astronomy.
a.
the great circle formed by the intersection of the plane of the earth's orbit with the celestial sphere; the apparent annual path of the sun in the heavens.
b.
an analogous great circle on a terrestrial globe.
2.
Astrology. the great circle of the ecliptic, along which are located the 12 houses and signs of the zodiac.
Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English < Medieval Latin eclīptica, feminine of eclīpticus < Greek ekleiptikós, equivalent to ekleíp(ein) (see eclipse) + -tikos -tic
1350–1400; Middle English < Medieval Latin eclīptica, feminine of eclīpticus < Greek ekleiptikós, equivalent to ekleíp(ein) (see eclipse) + -tikos -tic
Related forms
e·clip·ti·cal·ly, adverb
non·e·clip·tic, adjective
non·e·clip·ti·cal, adjective
non·e·clip·ti·cal·ly, adverb
un·e·clip·tic, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To ecliptic
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Ecliptic
is always a great word to know.
So is flibbertigibbet. Does it mean:
| a chattering or flighty, light-headed person. |
| a screen or mat covered with a dark material for shielding a camera lens from excess light or glare. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
ecliptic (ɪˈklɪptɪk) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | astronomy |
| a. the great circle on the celestial sphere representing the apparent annual path of the sun relative to the stars. It is inclined at 23.45° to the celestial equator. The poles of the ecliptic lie on the celestial sphere due north and south of the plane of the ecliptic | |
| b. (as modifier): the ecliptic plane | |
| 2. | an equivalent great circle, opposite points of which pass through the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, on the terrestrial globe |
| —adj | |
| 3. | of or relating to an eclipse |
| e'cliptically | |
| —adv | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
ecliptic
late 14c., "the circle in the sky followed by the Sun," from M.L. ecliptica, from L.L. (linea) ecliptica, from Gk. ekliptikos "of an eclipse" (see eclipse). So called because eclipses happen only when the Moon is near the line.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Science Dictionary
| ecliptic (ĭ-klĭp'tĭk) Pronunciation Key
The great circle on the celestial sphere that represents the Sun's apparent path among the background stars in one year. The northernmost point this path reaches on the celestial sphere is the Tropic of Cancer, its southernmost point is the Tropic of capricorn, and it crosses the celestial equator at the points of vernal and autumnal equinox. ◇ The plane of the ecliptic is the imaginary plane that intersects the celestial sphere along the ecliptic, and the north and south ecliptic poles are the points where a perpendicular line through the middle of this plane intersect the sphere. The plane of the ecliptic corresponds to the plane in which the Earth orbits the Sun. If the Earth's axis were not tilted, the ecliptic would be identical to the celestial equator and the ecliptic poles identical to the celestial poles. In this case, the Sun's path would not move northward or southward from the equator during the year. As it is, the plane of the celestial equator is tilted 23.45° to the plane of the ecliptic, corresponding to the tilt of the Earth's axis with respect to its orbital plane, giving the Sun its apparent northward and southward movement among the background stars. See illustration at celestial sphere. |
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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Example sentences
Unless a planet is captured or disturbed somehow, all of them form along an ecliptic plane.
The prehistoric astronomers divided the ecliptic and zodiac into twelve parts, now familiarly known as the signs of the zodiac.
The moon gets unstable and goes into an ecliptic orbit around the sun.
Only stars within a narrow angle of the ecliptic will be able to detect these transits.
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