el‧lip‧ti‧cal /ɪˈlɪptɪkəl/ (also el‧lip‧tic /-tɪk/) adjective
[Date: 1600-1700; Language: Greek; Origin: elleiptikos, from elleipein; ⇒ ellipsis]

1. having the shape of an ellipse:
Kepler published his discovery of the elliptical orbits of planets in 1609.

2. elliptical speech or writing is difficult to understand because more is meant than is actually said:
The language is often elliptical and ambiguous.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲