Hypertext Webster Gateway: "ecliptic"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Ecliptic \E*clip"tic\, n. [Cf. F. ['e]cliptique, L. linea
ecliptica, Gr. ?, prop. adj., of an eclipse, because in this
circle eclipses of the sun and moon take place. See
{Ecliptic}, a.]
1. (Astron.) A great circle of the celestial sphere, making
an angle with the equinoctial of about 23[deg] 28'. It is
the apparent path of the sun, or the real path of the
earth as seen from the sun.
2. (Geog.) A great circle drawn on a terrestrial globe,
making an angle of 23[deg] 28' with the equator; -- used
for illustrating and solving astronomical problems.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Ecliptic \E*clip"tic\, a. [L. eclipticus belonging to an
eclipse, Gr. ?. See {Eclipse}.]
1. Pertaining to the ecliptic; as, the ecliptic way.
2. Pertaining to an eclipse or to eclipses.
{Lunar ecliptic limit} (Astron.), the space of 12[deg] on the
moon's orbit from the node, within which, if the moon
happens to be at full, it will be eclipsed.
{Solar ecliptic limit}, the space of 17[deg] from the lunar
node, within which, if a conjunction of the sun and moon
occur, the sun will be eclipsed.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
ecliptic
n : the great circle representing the apparent annual path of
the sun; the plane of the Earth's orbit around the sun;
makes an angle of about 23 degrees with the equator; "all
of the planets rotate the sun in approximately the same
ecliptic"
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