- (a.) A great circle of the celestial sphere, making an angle with the equinoctial of about 23¡ 28'. It is the apparent path of the sun or the real path of the earth as seen from the sun.
- (a.) Pertaining to an eclipse or to eclipses.
- (a.) A great circle drawn on a terrestrial globe, making an angle of 23¡ 28' with the equator; -- used for illustrating and solving astronomical problems.
- (a.) Pertaining to the ecliptic; as, the ecliptic way.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
| APA | Webster's. (2011). ecliptic. Retrieved September 21, 2026, from http://smartdefine.org/ecliptic/definitions/2001503 |
| Chicago | Webster's. 2011. "ecliptic" http://smartdefine.org/ecliptic/definitions/2001503 (accessed September 21, 2026). |
| Harvard | Webster's 2011, ecliptic, Smart Define, viewed 21 September, 2026, <http://smartdefine.org/ecliptic/definitions/2001503>. |
| MLA | Webster's. "ecliptic" 27 May 2011. Web. 21 September 2026. <http://smartdefine.org/ecliptic/definitions/2001503> |