ellipticity

[ ih-lip-tis-i-tee, el-ip-, ee-lip- ]

noun

1. the degree of divergence of an ellipse from a circle.

ellipticity

/ ɪlɪpˈtɪsɪtɪ; ˌɛl- /

noun

1. the degree of deviation from a circle or sphere of an elliptical or ellipsoidal shape or path, measured as the ratio of the major to the minor axes

Word History and Origins

Origin of ellipticity¹

1745–55; elliptic- ( elliptical ) + -ity

Example Sentences

"We achieved a remarkable milestone in the deep ultraviolet range, where we set a new record for ellipticity," Doumani said.

From Science Daily

Studies of known pulsars—fast-spinning neutron stars that emit lighthouselike beams of radiation—have already placed limits on ellipticity about 1,000 times better than those from this study, he says.

From Scientific American

They focused on two factors: the asymmetry and ellipticity—or ovalness—of an egg.

From National Geographic

They first wrote a computer program, named Eggxtractor — who says scientists have no sense of humor? —, that classified eggs based on their ellipticity and asymmetry.

From New York Times

Latitude and time of year are chief, but the ellipticity of Earth’s orbit and the fact that the planet is not quite spherical must also be taken into account.

From Scientific American