ecliptic

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e·clip·tic / iˈkliptik/ • n. Astron. a great circle on the celestial sphere representing the sun's apparent path during the year, so called because lunar and solar eclipses can occur only when the moon crosses it.• adj. of an eclipse or the ecliptic.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

ecliptic

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ecliptic The plane of the orbit of the Earth around the Sun. It forms an angle of 23°27′ with the Earth's equator. The orbits of the planets all lie within 3.4° of this plane, except for those of Pluto (17.2°) and Mercury (7°).

A Dictionary of Earth Sciences AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY

ecliptic

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ecliptic pert. to an eclipse XIV; sb. great circle of the celestial sphere, the apparent orbit of the sun, so called because eclipses happen only when the moon is on or very near this line XIV. — L. eclīpticus — Gr. ekleiptikós (also sb.), f. ekleípein; see prec. and -IC.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

ecliptic

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ecliptic The plane of the orbit of the Earth around the Sun. It forms an angle of 23°27′ with the Earth's equator. The orbits of the planets all lie within 3.4° of this plane, except for those of Pluto (17.2°) and Mercury (7°).

A Dictionary of Ecology MICHAEL ALLABY

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