elliptical

el·lip·tic  (-lptk) or el·lip·ti·cal (-t-kl)

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.

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[New Latin ellpticus, from Greek elleiptikos, defective, from elleipsis, a falling short, ellipsis; see ellipsis.]

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el·lipti·cal·ly adv.

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elliptical or elliptic

Adjective

1. oval-shaped

2. (of speech or writing) obscure or ambiguous

USAGE: The use of elliptical to mean circumlocutory should be avoided as it may be interpreted wrongly as meaning condensed or concise.

Thesaurus

Adj.	1.	elliptical - rounded like an egg egg-shaped, oval, oval-shaped, oviform, ovoid, prolate, ovate, elliptic rounded - curving and somewhat round in shape rather than jagged; "low rounded hills"; "rounded shoulders"
	2.	elliptical - characterized by extreme economy of expression or omission of superfluous elements; "the dialogue is elliptic and full of dark hints"; "the explanation was concise, even elliptical to the verge of obscurity"- H.O.Taylor elliptic concise - expressing much in few words; "a concise explanation"

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elliptical

adjective oblique, concentrated, obscure, compact, indirect, ambiguous, concise, condensed, terse, cryptic, laconic, abstruse, recondite

Translations

elliptical [ɪˈlɪptɪkl] adj → elliptique

elliptical [ɪˈlɪptɪkl] ellipse adj → elliptisch

elliptical [ɪˈlɪptɪkl] adj → ellittico/a