elliptical
含义: Having the shape of an ellipse — an elongated circle or oval. In rhetoric and grammar, it describes speech or writing that is deliberately obscure, indirect, or that omits words that can be inferred.
Elliptical has two productive senses. In science, mathematics, and astronomy, it describes orbits, galaxies, and geometric shapes. In literary criticism and journalism, it characterises oblique, allusive, or compressed prose — 'her elliptical style leaves much to the reader's imagination.' The grammatical sense refers to the omission of words understood from context (ellipsis). The dual meaning makes it a favourite of broadsheet reviewers, who use it to praise stylistically spare or enigmatic writing.
例句
- Kepler demonstrated that the planets move in elliptical orbits around the Sun rather than in perfect circles. 开普勒证明了行星围绕太阳运行的轨道是椭圆形的,而非完美的圆形。Kepler demostró que los planetas se mueven en órbitas elípticas alrededor del Sol y no en círculos perfectos.ケプラーは、惑星が完全な円ではなく太陽の周りを楕円軌道で運動することを実証した。케플러는 행성이 완전한 원이 아니라 태양 주위를 타원 궤도로 운동한다는 것을 증명했다.
- The novelist's elliptical prose style demands close attention from the reader, as key information is often implied rather than stated. 这位小说家省略式的散文风格要求读者集中注意力,因为关键信息往往是暗示而非直接陈述的。El estilo narrativo elíptico de la novelista exige una atención minuciosa por parte del lector, ya que la información clave se insinúa en lugar de declararse.この小説家の省略的な散文体は読者に注意深い読みを求め、重要な情報はしばしば直接述べられず暗示される。이 소설가의 생략적인 산문체는 독자에게 면밀한 주의를 요구하며, 핵심 정보는 직접 서술되기보다 암시되는 경우가 많다.
- The galaxy's elliptical shape distinguishes it from the more familiar spiral formations observed elsewhere in the cluster. 该星系的椭圆形状使其有别于在同一星团中观测到的更为常见的螺旋形结构。La forma elíptica de la galaxia la distingue de las formaciones espirales más conocidas observadas en otras partes del cúmulo.その銀河の楕円形は、同じ星団内で観測される、より一般的な渦巻き形の構造とは区別される。그 은하의 타원 형태는 같은 성단 내에서 관측되는 보다 일반적인 나선형 구조와 구별된다.
发音
用法指南
语境: academic, scientific, literary
语气: neutral
起源与历史
From Greek elleipsis (a falling short, deficiency), from elleipein (to leave out, fall short). The geometric sense dates from the 17th century; the rhetorical sense, referring to omission, emerged around the same period.
文化背景
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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