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# ellipsis

noun (an ellipsis, ellipses)

«ellipsis» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. The punctuation mark of three dots (…) that shows words are missing or that a sentence trails off. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/ellipsis/#m1)
2. (grammar) Leaving out words that are understood, as in «I can swim and so can Tom» (swim is left out). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/ellipsis/#m2)

### In the lessons

In English lessons the ellipsis builds suspense in stories («She opened the door slowly…») or shows a pause or unfinished thought. In quotes it marks words cut out. Phrases: «use an ellipsis», «end with an ellipsis».

### Examples

- She opened the box and saw… nothing! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/ellipsis/#x1)
- Use an ellipsis to make the reader wait. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/ellipsis/#x2)
- «Well… I'm not sure,» said Max. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/ellipsis/#x3)
- The writer used an ellipsis to leave out part of the quote. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/ellipsis/#x4)
- Don't put four dots — an ellipsis has three. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/ellipsis/#x5)
- «Want some?» «Yes, please» is an example of ellipsis. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/ellipsis/#x6)

### Note

Plural: ellipses (el-IP-seez). Always three dots, not two or five. Do not confuse with «ellipse», an oval shape in maths.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «ellipsis» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/ellipsis/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«ellipsis» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/ellipsis.html) on Mova free.