Words · Less common
ecliptic
/ɪkˈlɪptɪk/ · 8 letters · 6 distinct letters
- noun
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
Word history
1. Borrowed from Latin eclīptica. So named because an eclipse can occur only when the Moon lies on this plane. 2. From Middle English ecliptik, from Latin eclīpticus, from Ancient Greek ἐκλειπτικός (ekleiptikós).
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Why this word counts
- Where it comes from
- Listed in the English Speller Database at size 50: the standard list most spell checkers use.
- How common it is
- Used about once in every 4 million words.
- In the spelling bee
- Daily answer A standard word with a definition we can show, so it can be a daily answer.