What does ellipse mean Meaning and Definition
What does ellipse mean
Pronunciation
/ɛˈlɪps/
Part of Speech
Noun, verb, and adjective
Definition
A closed curve or figure resulting from the intersection of a plane with a cone or cylinder, or a point where an object rotates around a central axis, often used in mathematics and physics to describe the path of an object or the shape of a surface.
Etymology
The word “ellipse” comes from the Greek word ἔλλειψις (ellípsis), which means “a falling short” or “a defect”.
Usage Notes
In everyday language, an ellipse is often used to describe a shape or path that is curved but not a complete circle. In mathematics and physics, the term is used to describe more complex geometric shapes and motions.
Cultural References
The concept of an ellipse has been used in various forms of art and literature, such as in Kepler’s laws of planetary motion, which describe the elliptical paths of planets around the sun, and in Archimedes’ treatise on the subject, which discusses the properties of elliptical curves.
Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases
“Out of ellipse” is a common idiomatic expression that means being outside or beyond the normal or expected range.
Related Words or Phrases
Circle, oval, sphere, orbit, rotation
Collocations
Focal axis, center of gravity, moment of inertia
Frequency of Use
The word “ellipse” is used relatively infrequently in everyday language, but is more commonly used in technical and scientific contexts.
Common Misspellings
Elips, elipse, elipsoid, elip