Ecliptic — E*clip tic, a. [L. eclipticus belonging to an eclipse, Gr. ekleiptiko s. See {Eclipse}.] 1. Pertaining to the ecliptic; as, the ecliptic way. [1913 Webster] 2. Pertaining to an eclipse or to eclipses. [1913 Webster] {Lunar ecliptic limit} (Astron … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
ecliptic — e*clip tic ([ e]*kl[i^]p t[i^]k), n. [Cf. F. [ e]cliptique, L. linea ecliptica, Gr. ekleiptiko s, 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… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
ecliptic — Astronomy ► NOUN ▪ a great circle on the celestial sphere representing the sun s apparent path during the year, so called because lunar and solar eclipses can only occur when the moon crosses it. ► ADJECTIVE ▪ of eclipses or the ecliptic … English terms dictionary
ecliptic — [i klip′tik, ēklip′tik] n. [ME ecliptik < ML ecliptica < LL ( linea) ecliptica < Gr ekleiptikos, of an eclipse] 1. the great circle on the celestial sphere intersecting the celestial equator at about 231/ 2° and representing the changing … English World dictionary
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 (Cf. eclipse)). So called because eclipses happen only when the Moon is near the line. Related … Etymology dictionary
Ecliptic — The ecliptic is the apparent path that the Sun traces out in the sky during the year. As it appears to move in the sky in relation to the stars, the apparent path aligns with the planets throughout the course of the year. More accurately, it is… … Wikipedia
ecliptic — ecliptically, adv. /i klip tik/, n. 1. Astron. 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… … Universalium
ecliptic — I. adjective Etymology: Middle English ecliptik, from Late Latin ecliptica linea, literally, line of eclipses Date: 14th century of or relating to the ecliptic or an eclipse II. noun Date: 15th century the great circle of the celestial sphere… … New Collegiate Dictionary
ecliptic — noun The apparent path of the sun in the sky. More accurately, it is the intersection of the celestial sphere with the plane of the ecliptic, which is the geometric plane containing the mean orbit of the Earth around the Sun. So named because an… … Wiktionary
ecliptic — e•clip•tic [[t]ɪˈklɪp tɪk[/t]] n. 1) astron. 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 2) astron. an analogous great circle on a… … From formal English to slang
