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Ellipsis

/ɪˈlɪp.sɪs/ · noun

Meaning

(typography, mathematics) A mark consisting of multiple full stops (with or without spaces), used to indicate omitted, missing, or illegible words; or (in mathematics) that a pattern continues..

Definitions by Sense

  1. (typography, mathematics) A mark consisting of multiple full stops (with or without spaces), used to indicate omitted, missing, or illegible words; or (in mathematics) that a pattern continues.
  2. (grammar, linguistics, rhetoric) The omission of a word or phrase that can be inferred from the context.
  3. (film) The omission of scenes in a film that do not advance the plot.
  4. (obsolete, geometry) An ellipse.

Example Sentences

The ellipsis in 1, 2, 3, ..., 8, 9 means that the numbers 4, 5, 6, and 7 are not explicitly included, but are considered to be part of the pattern.
The ellipsis in 0.333... means that the number is a repeating decimal, having threes that go on forever.
CARD: Hey Baby. Thanks for the … last night. Love you! HAZEL: Wow. I've never despised an ellipsis so much in my life.
It was now possible for writers and directors to cut scenes that did not further the plot; called "ellipses" by filmmakers.

Synonyms for ellipsis

dot dot dotsuspension dotssuspension pointseclipsis

Antonyms for ellipsis

Related Words

eclipsisellipseovalspace dotpunctuation spaceiteration markmiddle dotdecimal pointinterpunctemdashcompound symbolpunctuation markperiodsemicolonem dashcommaem rulevertical ellipsisplain pointsesame dot

Word Forms

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does ellipsis mean?

Ellipsis means (typography, mathematics) A mark consisting of multiple full stops (with or without spaces), used to indicate omitted, missing, or illegible words; or (in mathematics) that a pattern continues..

What is a synonym for ellipsis?

Common synonyms include dot dot dot, suspension dots, suspension points, eclipsis.

What is the opposite of ellipsis?

The opposite depends on the specific sense.

How do you use ellipsis in a sentence?

The ellipsis in 1, 2, 3, ..., 8, 9 means that the numbers 4, 5, 6, and 7 are not explicitly included, but are considered to be part of the pattern.

Sources & Attribution

FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0

Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.