ellipticals

/ɪˈlɪptɪkəlz/
noun
  1. Exercise machines that simulate walking or running without putting pressure on the joints, with foot pedals that move in an oval path.
    • The fitness center has five new ellipticals with built-in heart rate monitors.
    • I prefer ellipticals to treadmills because they are easier on my knees.
    • She spends 30 minutes on the ellipticals at the gym every morning.
  2. Short for elliptical galaxies; galaxies that are oval or egg-shaped and contain mostly old stars.
    • Astronomers study ellipticals to understand how galaxies evolve over time.
    • Unlike spiral galaxies, ellipticals have very little gas and dust.
    • The Hubble telescope captured detailed images of distant ellipticals.