Nectarine trees produce varietals of fruit that commonly have smooth skin, firm flesh and a stone that either removes easily from the flesh or clings to it, giving them further classification as clingstone or freestone.
The ecliptic is an imaginary line that marks the path of the sun. The signs of the Zodiac come from the constellations that lie along this line. As Earth orbits the sun, the sun appears to drift across the background stars. The ecliptic marks out the path of this motion on the sky.
Full Definition of ELLIPTICAL. 1. : of, relating to, or shaped like an ellipse. 2. a: of, relating to, or marked by ellipsis or an ellipsis b (1) : of, relating to, or marked by extreme economy of speech or writing (2) : of or relating to deliberate obscurity (as of literary or conversational style).