ecliptic

• POS: Adjective, Noun
• HYPHEN: e=clip=tic

CIDE DICTIONARY

ecliptic, n. [Cf. F. écliptique, L. linea ecliptica, Gr. 'ekleiptiko`s, prop. adj., of an eclipse, because in this circle eclipses of the sun and moon take place. See Ecliptic, a.].

•  A great circle of the celestial sphere, making an angle with the equinoctial of about 231913 Webster]
•  A great circle drawn on a terrestrial globe, making an angle of 231913 Webster]

ecliptic, a. [L. eclipticus belonging to an eclipse, Gr. 'ekleiptiko`s. See Eclipse.].

•  Pertaining to the ecliptic; as, the ecliptic way.  [1913 Webster]
•  Pertaining to an eclipse or to eclipses.  [1913 Webster]

Lunar ecliptic limit (Astron.), the space of 12 -- Solar ecliptic limit, the space of 17

OXFORD DICTIONARY

ecliptic, n. & adj.
--n. the sun's apparent path among the stars during the year.
--adj. of an eclipse or the ecliptic.

Etymology

ME f. L f. Gk ekleiptikos (as ECLIPSE)

THESAURUS

ecliptic

anklet, aphelion, apogee, armlet, astronomical longitude, autumnal equinox, band, belt, bracelet, celestial equator, celestial longitude, celestial meridian, cincture, cingulum, circle, collar, collarband, colures, earring, equator, equinoctial, equinoctial circle, equinoctial colure, equinox, fascia, fillet, finger ring, galactic longitude, geocentric longitude, geodetic longitude, girdle, girt, girth, great circle, heliocentric longitude, hoop, longitude, meridian, neckband, necklace, nose ring, orbit, perigee, perihelion, period, quoit, ring, small circle, solstitial colure, trajectory, vernal equinox, wristband, wristlet, zodiac, zone

ROGET THESAURUS

ecliptic

World

N world, creation, nature, universe, earth, globe, wide world, cosmos, kosmos, terraqueous globe, sphere, macrocosm, megacosm, music of the spheres, heavens, sky, welkin, empyrean, starry cope, starry heaven, starry host, firmament, Midgard, supersensible regions, varuna, vault of heaven, canopy of heaven, celestial spaces, heavenly bodies, stars, asteroids, nebulae, galaxy, milky way, galactic circle, via lactea, ame no kawa, sun, orb of day, Apollo, Phoebus, photosphere, chromosphere, solar system, planet, planetoid, comet, satellite, moon, orb of night, Diana, silver-footed queen, aerolite, meteor, planetary ring, falling star, shooting star, meteorite, uranolite, constellation, zodiac, signs of the zodiac, Charles's wain, Big Dipper, Little Dipper, Great Bear, Southern Cross, Orion's belt, Cassiopea's chair, Pleiades, colures, equator, ecliptic, orbit, astronomy, uranography, uranology, cosmology, cosmography, cosmogony, eidouranion, orrery, geodesy, star gazing, star gazer, astronomer, observatory, planetarium, cosmic, cosmical, mundane, terrestrial, terrestrious, terraqueous, terrene, terreous, telluric, earthly, geotic, under the sun, sublunary, subastral, solar, heliacal, lunar, celestial, heavenly, sphery, starry, stellar, sidereal, sideral, astral, nebular, uranic, in all creation, on the face of the globe, here below, under the sun, die Weltgeschichte ist das Weltergesicht, earth is but the frozen echo of the silent voice o, green calm below, blue quietness above, hanging in a golden chain this pendant World, nothing in nature is unbeautiful, silently as a dream the fabric rose, some touch of nature's genial glow, this majestical roof fretted with golden fire, through knowledge we behold the World's creation.