1. a linguistic structure in which a word or words normally needed for reasons of grammar or logic are omitted. This may be done for the sake of brevity, emphasis, or both, as, for example, in the reply Gone to the question Where is she? See also deletion.

2. in psychoanalysis, a form of parapraxis involving the omission of significant ideas in free association or dreams. Efforts are made to recover these ideas during analysis. —elliptical adj.