I. ə̇ˈkliptik, (ˈ)ē|k-, -tēk adjective
Etymology: Middle English ecliptik, from Late Latin eclipticus, from Latin, of an eclipse, from Greek ekleiptikos, from ekleipsis eclipse
1. : of or relating to the ecliptic
2.
[Latin eclipticus ]
: of or relating to an eclipse
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English ecliptik, from Medieval Latin ecliptica, from Late Latin, feminine of eclipticus, adjective; from the fact that eclipses occur on this circle
1. : 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 — see obliquity
2. : a great circle drawn on a terrestrial globe making an angle of about 23° 27′ with the equator and used for illustrating and solving astronomical problems