elliptic

From Ancient Greek ἐλλειπτικός (elleiptikós), from ἐλλείπω (elleípō, “I leave out, omit”). By surface analysis, ellipse +‎ -tic.

Elliptic leaf form.

• IPA^(key): /ɪˈlɪptɪk/

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elliptic (not comparable)

1. (geometry) Of or pertaining to an ellipse.
   • 1705, George Cheyne, “Of the Physical Laws, and the Uniform Appearances of Nature. Law III.”, in Philosophical Principles of Natural Religion: […], London: […] George Strahan […], →OCLC, § XXIV, page 39:

     Novv ſince the Planets move in Elliptick Orbits, in one of vvhoſe foci the Sun is, and by a Radius from the Sun deſcribe equal Area's in equal Times, vvhich no other Lavv of a Circulating Fluid, but the Harmonical Circulation can Account for, vve muſt find out a Lavv for the Paracentrical Motion, that may make the Orbits Elliptick.

   • 1995, Patrick J. Roache, Elliptic Marching Methods and Domain Decomposition, page 1:

     In this chapter, the history of solving elliptic problems by direct marching methods is reviewed.

2. (mathematics) Of or pertaining to a broad field of mathematics that originates from the problem of calculating arc lengths of an ellipse.

   elliptic integral

   elliptic function

   elliptic curve

3. (mathematics, in combination, of certain functions, equations and operators) That has coefficients satisfying a condition analogous to the condition for the general equation for a conic section to be of an ellipse.

   elliptic partial differential equation

   elliptic operator

   elliptic regularity

4. (botany, of leaves) Oval, with a short or no point.

• (of or pertaining to an ellipse): elliptical

• (whose coefficients satisfy a condition): hyperbolic, parabolic

• elliptical
• elliptically

elliptic (plural elliptics)

1. An elliptical function, equation, path, etc.
   • 1765, John Nichols, “[New Ænigmas, to be answered next Year.] (2.) Ænigma 192”, in The Gentleman’s Diary, or The Mathematical Repository; an Almanack […], London: […] [T]he Company of Stationers, page 45:

     The Planetary Paths I trace, / Exploring Realms of boundleſs Space; / Elliptics, Angles, Cubes, and Curves, / In me ſupply the Place of Nerves; […]

   • 1807, Manuel Alvarez Espriella [pseudonym; Robert Southey], “Mail Coaches.—Mr. Palmer ill-used.—Vicinity of Birmingham.—Collieries on fire.—Stafford.—Stone.—Newcastle-under-Line.—Punishments for Scolding.—Cheshire.—Bridgewater Arms at Manchester.”, in Letters from England, volume II, London: […] Longman, Hurst, Rees and Orme, […], page 137:

     Two men were smoking over a bottle of wine at one table; they were talking of parabolics and elliptics, and describing diagrams on the table with a wet finger; […]

   • 1916, “Platinum Bill” [pseudonym; Wilfrid Robert Smith], “The Dreamster”, in Under the Northern Lights, Portland, Ore.: The Columbia Printing Co., stanza II, pages 32–33:

     Diagrams geometric, on parchmental scroll; / Circles, ovals, elliptics and such, / He sure figures will tell what is inside the knoll, / And tho far under ground, he’s in touch / With the hidden deposits of mineral ore, / And lost channels ’neath mountains he feels: […]

   • 1987 December, Benjamin Fine, “Fuchsian embeddings in the Bianchi groups”, in Canadian Journal of Mathematics, volume XXXIX, number 6, page 1435:

     The fix points of hyperbolics and parabolics in F must lie on the fixed circle C, while the fixed points of elliptics in F are inverse with respect to C.