Webster's English Dictionary

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ecliptic

1. eclip.tic \i-'klip-tik\ n [ME ecliptik, fr. LL ecliptica linea, lit., 
   line of eclipses] 1: the great circle of the celestial sphere that is the 
   apparent path of th e 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 
   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
2. ecliptic aj : of or relating to the ecliptic or an eclipse