Definition of: ecliptic

(i·klip′tik, ē-) noun
1. Astron. a That plane, passing through the center of the sun, which contains the orbit of the earth: also plane of the ecliptic. b The great circle in which this plane intersects the celestial sphere; the apparent path of the sun around the celestial sphere. 2 A great circle on a terrestrial globe drawn tangent to the tropics, used when a terrestrial globe is employed for a celestial.
—fixed ecliptic A fixed plane in the position of the ecliptic at some standard epoch.
—adjective Pertaining to eclipses or to the ecliptic.
—e·clip′·ti·cal adjective
—e·clip′ti·cal·ly adverb
PLANES OF THE ECLIPTIC
noun s. North, south poles.
e. Equator. pe. Plane.
ns. Greenwich meridian.