el·lip·tic (?-l?p?t?k) or el·lip·ti·cal (-t?-k?l)adj.1. Of, relating to, or having the shape of an ellipse.2. Containing or characterized by ellipsis.3. a. Of or relating to extreme economy of oral or written expression.b. Marked by deliberate obscurity of style or expression.[New Latin ell?pticus, from Greek elleiptikos, defective, from elleipsis, a falling short, ellipsis; see ellipsis.]el·lip?ti·cal·ly adv.American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.elliptical (??l?pt?k?l) or ellipticadj1. (Mathematics) relating to or having the shape of an ellipse2. (Grammar) relating to or resulting from ellipsis3. (Literary & Literary Critical Terms) (of speech, literary style, etc)a. very condensed or concise, often so as to be obscure or ambiguousb. circumlocutory or long-winded Also (for senses 1, 2): elliptic el?liptically adv el?lipticalness nUsage: The use of elliptical to mean circumlocutory should be avoided as it may be interpreted wrongly as meaning condensed or conciseCollins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014el?lip?ti?cal (??l?p t? k?l) adj. Also, el?lip?tic. 1. pertaining to or having the form of an ellipse. 2. pertaining to or marked by grammatical ellipsis. 3. a. characterized by extreme economy of expression in speech or writing. b. ambiguous; cryptic; obscure. [1650?60;