elliptical

• Qui a la forme d'une ellipse ou qui se rapporte à une ellipse ; se dit aussi d'un discours ou d'un écrit volontairement obscur ou ambigu.

Relating to or shaped like an ellipse; also used to describe speech or writing that is deliberately obscure or ambiguous.

1. Oval or egg-shapedB2formal

   Having the shape of an ellipse; rounded and slightly elongated like an egg.

   ovale ou en forme d'ellipse

   • The planet's orbit is slightly elliptical.
   • The mirror had an elliptical shape.
   • The architect designed an elliptical staircase.

   Synonymesegg-shapedellipsoidalovalovateoviformovoid

2. Concise or obscure in expressionC1formal

   Characterized by extreme economy of speech or writing, often omitting words that are understood from context, which can make the meaning unclear.

   Élliptique (sens figuré)

   • His elliptical style of writing leaves much to the reader's interpretation.
   • She gave an elliptical answer that didn't fully explain her position.
   • The poet's elliptical phrases are rich with implied meaning.

   Synonymesabstrusebriefcompendiousconcisecrypticlaconicpithysententioussuccinctterse

   Antonymescircumlocutorydiffuseexpandedexplicitlong-windedprolixverbosewordy