from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
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.
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The planets move in elliptic orbits. --Cheyne.
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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.
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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}.
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from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Chuck \Chuck\, n.
1. A slight blow or pat under the chin.
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2. A short throw; a toss.
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3. (Mach.) A contrivance or machine fixed to the mandrel of a
lathe, for holding a tool or the material to be operated
upon.
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{Chuck farthing}, a play in which a farthing is pitched into
a hole; pitch farthing.
{Chuck hole}, a deep hole in a wagon rut.
{Elliptic chuck}, a chuck having a slider and an eccentric
circle, which, as the work turns round, give it a sliding
motion across the center which generates an ellipse.
--Knight.
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