elliptic

elliptic
    adj 1: (of a leaf shape) in the form of an ellipse
    2: rounded like an egg [syn: {egg-shaped}, {elliptic},
       {elliptical}, {oval}, {oval-shaped}, {ovate}, {oviform},
       {ovoid}, {prolate}]
    3: characterized by extreme economy of expression or omission of
       superfluous elements; "the dialogue is elliptic and full of
       dark hints"; "the explanation was concise, even elliptical to
       the verge of obscurity"- H.O.Taylor [syn: {elliptic},
       {elliptical}]
    

Elliptic \El*lip"tic\, Elliptical \El*lip"tic*al\, a. [Gr. ?:
   cf. F. elliptique. See {Ellipsis}.]
   1. Of or pertaining to an ellipse; having the form of an
      ellipse; oblong, with rounded ends.
      [1913 Webster]

            The planets move in elliptic orbits.  --Cheyne.
      [1913 Webster]

            The billiard sharp who any one catches,
            His doom's extremely hard 
            He's made to dwell
            In a dungeon cell
            On a spot that's always barred.
            And there he plays extravagant matches
            In fitless finger-stalls
            On a cloth untrue
            With a twisted cue
            And elliptical billiard balls!
                                                  --Gilbert and
                                                  Sullivan (The
                                                  Mikado: The
                                                  More Humane
                                                  Mikado Song)

   2. Having a part omitted; as, an elliptical phrase.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. leaving out information essential to comprehension; so
      concise as to be difficult to understand; obscure or
      ambiguous; -- of speech or writing; as, an elliptical
      comment.
      [PJC]

   {Elliptic chuck}. See under {Chuck}.

   {Elliptic compasses}, an instrument arranged for drawing
      ellipses.

   {Elliptic function}. (Math.) See {Function}.

   {Elliptic integral}. (Math.) See {Integral}.

   {Elliptic polarization}. See under {Polarization}.
      [1913 Webster]
    

72 Moby Thesaurus words for "elliptic":
      Spartan, abbreviated, abridged, abstracted, aposiopestic,
      bell-like, bell-shaped, bobbed, brief, brusque, campaniform,
      campanular, campanulate, capsule, capsulized, clipped, close,
      compact, compendious, compressed, concise, condensed, contracted,
      crisp, cropped, curt, curtailed, cut, cut short, digested, docked,
      elided, ellipsoid, elliptical, elongated, epigrammatic, gnomic,
      laconic, mowed, mown, nipped, oblong, oblongated, oblongitudinal,
      parabolic, pithy, pointed, pollard, polled, pruned, reaped,
      rectangular, reserved, saucer-shaped, sententious, shaved, sheared,
      short, short and sweet, short-cut, shortened, snub, snubbed,
      succinct, summary, synopsized, taciturn, terse, tight,
      to the point, trimmed, truncated