Plural of ecliptic; the great circles on the celestial sphere that represent the sun's apparent annual path, or multiple ecliptic planes.
From Late Latin 'ecliptica' (linea) meaning 'circle of eclipses', derived from Greek 'ekliptikos'. The plural form appears frequently in astronomical and astrological texts.
Ancient astronomers mapped the zodiac along the ecliptic because they noticed planets always stayed close to the sun's path—this observation was crucial for understanding how our solar system is organized!
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.