el·lip·ti·cal
i-ˈlip-ti-kəl 
e-
variants
or elliptic
i-ˈlip-tik
e-
1
: of, relating to, or shaped like an ellipse
2
a
: of, relating to, or marked by ellipsis or an ellipsis
b(1)
: of, relating to, or marked by extreme economy of speech or writing
(2)
: of or relating to deliberate obscurity (as of literary or conversational style)
plural ellipticals
1
: elliptical galaxy
In Hubble's scheme, galaxies are divided into ellipticals and spirals.—
Roberto G. Abraham et al.
Roberto G. Abraham et al.2
: elliptical trainer
Ellipticals move in a smooth, oval motion, like riding a bike standing up, and offer great features like your beloved treadmill.—Monique Savin
Monique SavinSynonyms
Examples of elliptical in a Sentence
Adjective
The moon follows an elliptical path around the Earth.
a writer with an elliptical style
Recent Examples on the Web
New Atlas, 4 Nov. 2024
Looking like a love child between an elliptical and a StairMaster—your feet stay on the pedals the whole time, but just go straight up and down rather than in arcs—the viral gadget is compact, portable, and typically pretty budget-friendly.
—Jennifer Heimlich, SELF, 16 Oct. 2024
Kathleen Turner, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024
The free, wheelchair-accessible machines include stationary bikes, leg presses and ellipticals.
—Lizzy Alspach, Baltimore Sun, 16 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for elliptical 
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Adjective
It's made of three key components: Harmonic Drive The wave generator: A slightly elliptical input hub with a ball bearing race around its outer edge.
—New Atlas, 4 Nov. 2024
Looking like a love child between an elliptical and a StairMaster—your feet stay on the pedals the whole time, but just go straight up and down rather than in arcs—the viral gadget is compact, portable, and typically pretty budget-friendly.
—Jennifer Heimlich, SELF, 16 Oct. 2024
Noun
Additional equipment, such as rowers, bikes, ellipticals, and free weights allow guests to keep fitness routines in sync while on board.
—Kathleen Turner, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024
The free, wheelchair-accessible machines include stationary bikes, leg presses and ellipticals.
—Lizzy Alspach, Baltimore Sun, 16 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for elliptical
Dictionary Entries Near elliptical
Cite this Entry
“Elliptical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elliptical. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.
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