ecliptic

1 of 2

adjective

eclip·​tic i-ˈklip-tik 

: of or relating to the ecliptic or an eclipse

ecliptic

2 of 2

noun

: the great circle of the celestial sphere that is the apparent path of the sun among the stars or of the earth as seen from the sun : the plane of the earth's orbit extended to meet the celestial sphere

Examples of ecliptic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The telescope will observe each ecliptic pole once every orbit all mission long, seeking something seemingly ineffable: the faint signal of all the light emitted over the universe’s history, which SPHEREx scientists will then parse out across time. —Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 28 Feb. 2025

In the visualization below, the Galactic plane (in blue) can be seen running horizontally across the plot, with the ecliptic plane tilted along the spiral's main axis. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 28 Feb. 2025

Noun

The planets in our solar system orbit the sun essentially along the same line across the sky in a plane called the ecliptic. —Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 26 Feb. 2025

All the planets revolve around the sun in the same plane, which astronomers call the ecliptic. —Darryl Seligman, Space.com, 25 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English ekliptik, borrowed from Latin eclīpticus, borrowed from Greek ekleiptikós, from ekleípein "to be obscured (of a celestial body)" + -t-, verbal adjective ending + -ikos -ic entry 1 — more at eclipse entry 1

Noun

Middle English ekliptik, borrowed from Medieval Latin eclīptica (short for eclīptica līnea "ecliptic line"), from feminine of Latin eclīpticus ecliptic entry 1; so called because eclipses occur on or near the ecliptic

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for ecliptic

• elliptic
• apocalyptic
• cryptic
• diptych
• styptic
• triptych
• tryptic

Kids Definition

ecliptic

noun

eclip·​tic

i-ˈklip-tik

: the great circle of the celestial sphere on which the sun appears to move among the stars