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Ecliptic

/ɪˈklɪp.tɪk/

The apparent annual path of the Sun in the sky. More accurately, it is the intersection of the celestial sphere with the plane of the ecliptic, which is the geometric plane containing the mean orbit of the Earth around the Sun.

Full Dictionary Entry

📖 Definitions of "Ecliptic"

noun

1
The apparent annual path of the Sun in the sky. More accurately, it is the intersection of the celestial sphere with the plane of the ecliptic, which is the geometric plane containing the mean orbit of the Earth around the Sun.
2
A great circle drawn on a terrestrial globe, used for illustrating and solving astronomical problems.

adjective

1
Relating to an eclipse or the ecliptic.

💡 Words with a Similar Meaning to "Ecliptic"

Found via reverse dictionary — words that share a conceptual meaning.

Word	Definition
intersectsverb	(mathematics) Of two sets, to have at least one element in common.
celestial equatornoun	(astronomy) A great circle on the celestial sphere, coincident with the plane of Earth's Equator.
zodiacnoun	(astrology) The twelve equal divisions of the zodiacal region into signs or houses, each named for a prominent constellation in the region.
ecliptic planenoun	(astronomy) The ecliptic, the plane of the Earth's orbit around the Sun, or by extension the orbital planes of other celestial bodies.
equatornoun	(geography, often “the Equator”) An imaginary great circle around Earth, equidistant from the two poles, and dividing earth's surface into the northern and southern hemispheres.
equinoctialnoun	The great circle midway between the celestial poles; the celestial equator.
hour circlenoun	(astronomy) The great circle through an object whose location is to be determined and the two celestial poles.
equinoxnoun	One of two times in the year (one in March and the other in September) when the length of the day and the night are equal, which occurs when the sun is directly overhead at the equator; this marks the beginning of spring in one hemisphere and autumn in the other.
vertical circlenoun	(astronomy) A great circle on the celestial sphere, perpendicular to the horizon, that passes through the zenith and nadir
epicyclenoun	(astronomy) A small circle whose centre is on the circumference of a larger circle; in Ptolemaic astronomy it was seen as the basis of revolution of the "seven planets", given a fixed central Earth.
latitudenoun	(figurative) The relative freedom from restrictions; scope to do something.
equinoctial circlenoun	celestial equator
plane of eclipticnoun	(astronomy) The surface (plane) that contains the orbit of a planet in a solar system.
midcirclenoun	The middle of a circle.
celestial spherenoun	(astronomy) The apparent outer limit of space; an abstract sphere of infinite radius which serves as the imaginary backdrop for celestial objects, and of which the visible sky is one hemisphere.
equinoxial	(obsolete) Alternative form of equinoctial: of or related to the equinox. [(astronomy) Of or relating to the spring or autumnal equinox.]
equinoctial colurenoun	(astronomy) A meridian on the celestial sphere where the sun crosses it on equinoxes.
hemispherenoun	(geography) Half of the Earth, such as the Northern Hemisphere, Southern Hemisphere, Western Hemisphere or Eastern Hemisphere, Land Hemisphere, Water Hemisphere etc. .
colurenoun	(astronomy) Either of two great circles (meridians) that intersect at the poles and either the equinoxes or solstices.
circlenoun	(geometry) A two-dimensional geometric figure, a line, consisting of the set of all those points in a plane that are equally distant from a given point (center).