Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

ellipse

noun

/ɪˈlɪps/

Definition

An ellipse is a shape that looks like a stretched circle; it is a type of conic section defined as the set of points where the sum of the distances from two fixed points (the foci) is constant.

Examples

A standard basketball court has an elliptical shape in its design.
The planets move around the sun in elliptical orbits, not perfect circles.
In art, the artist used an ellipse to create a sense of depth in the painting.

Meaning

In a mathematical context, an ellipse can be understood as a closed curve around two focal points. It is commonly seen in orbits of planets and in various engineering applications.