ecliptic definition | Dictionary.com

e⋅clip⋅tic

[i-klip-tik]

–noun

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.

–adjective Also, e⋅clip⋅ti⋅cal.

3.	pertaining to an eclipse.

4.	pertaining to the ecliptic.

Origin:
1350–1400; ME < ML eclīptica, fem. of eclīpticus < Gk ekleiptikós, equiv. to ekleíp(ein) (see eclipse ) + -tikos -tic

Related forms:

e⋅clip⋅ti⋅cal⋅ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Link To ecliptic

e·clip·tic (ĭ-klĭp'tĭk)

The intersection plane of the earth's orbit with the celestial sphere, along which the sun appears to move as viewed from the earth.
A great circle inscribed on a terrestrial globe inclined at an approximate angle of 23°27' to the equator and representing the apparent motion of the sun in relation to the earth during a year.

[Middle English ecliptik, from Medieval Latin (līnea) eclīptica, ecliptic (line), from Latin eclīpticus, of an eclipse, from Greek ekleiptikos, from ekleipein, to fail to appear; see eclipse.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Ecliptic

E*clip"tic\, n. [Cf. F. ['e]cliptique, L. linea ecliptica, Gr. ?, prop. adj., of an eclipse, because in this circle eclipses of the sun and moon take place. See Ecliptic, a.]

1. (Astron.) A great circle of the celestial sphere, making an angle with the equinoctial of about 23[deg] 28'. It is the apparent path of the sun, or the real path of the earth as seen from the sun.

2. (Geog.) A great circle drawn on a terrestrial globe, making an angle of 23[deg] 28' with the equator; -- used for illustrating and solving astronomical problems.

Ecliptic

E*clip"tic\, a. [L. eclipticus belonging to an eclipse, Gr. ?. See Eclipse.]

1. Pertaining to the ecliptic; as, the ecliptic way.

2. Pertaining to an eclipse or to eclipses.

Lunar ecliptic limit (Astron.), the space of 12[deg] on the moon's orbit from the node, within which, if the moon happens to be at full, it will be eclipsed.

Solar ecliptic limit, the space of 17[deg] from the lunar node, within which, if a conjunction of the sun and moon occur, the sun will be eclipsed.

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.

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