# ellipse

> English word · Noun · IPA /ɪˈlɪps/ · frequency rank #42,625

## Definitions
1. A closed curve, the locus of a point such that the sum of the distances from that point to two other fixed points (called the foci of the ellipse) is constant; equivalently, the conic section that is the intersection of a cone with a plane that does not intersect the base of the cone.
2. Ellipsis, the removal from a phrase of a word which is grammatically needed, but which is clearly understood without having to be stated.

## Etymology
From French ellipse. Doublet of ellipsis.

## Easily confused with
- **Ellis** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ellipse-vs-ellis)
- **Eloise** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ellipse-vs-eloise)
- **Ellie** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ellie-vs-ellipse)
- **Elise** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elise-vs-ellipse)
- **eclipse** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/eclipse-vs-ellipse)
- **eclipsed** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/eclipsed-vs-ellipse)

## Common misspellings (8)
`elilpse`, `elipse`, `ellipes`, `ellippse`, `ellipsse`, `ellispe`, `ellpise`, `lelipse`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/ellipse