Meaning & use
elliptical machine
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountable
A gym machine with pedals and handles that you move in a smooth oval motion to exercise your whole body.
Grammar: Countable: one elliptical machine, two elliptical machines. Often shortened to 'elliptical' in speech.
Patterns
- use an elliptical machine
- go on the elliptical machine
- an elliptical machine for cardio
She spends twenty minutes on the elliptical machine before lifting weights.
The gym has five treadmills and only one elliptical machine, so there is often a wait.
My knees hurt when I run, so my doctor suggested the elliptical machine instead.
Word forms
| plural | elliptical machines |
|---|
Common combinations
- use an elliptical machine
- I use an elliptical machine three times a week.
- go on the elliptical machine
- He went on the elliptical machine for half an hour.
- an elliptical machine workout
- That elliptical machine workout really made me sweat.
- low-impact elliptical machine
- The elliptical machine is a low-impact option for sore joints.
Synonyms and how they differ
- cross-trainer
- The common British name for the same machine; 'elliptical machine' is more usual in American English.
- treadmill
- A different gym machine for walking or running on a moving belt; it is not low-impact like an elliptical machine.
- exercise bike
- A stationary bike; it works mainly the legs, while an elliptical machine also uses the arms.
Commonly confused: elliptical machine or elliptical?
elliptical machine vs elliptical
As an adjective, 'elliptical' means shaped like an oval or (of speech) deliberately unclear. In the gym, 'elliptical' alone is just a short form of 'elliptical machine'.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'elliptical machine' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Go on the elliptical machine' is the natural pattern for using the machine. 'Did an elliptical machine' treats it as an activity, which is wrong; 'went to' only means you moved toward it, and 'went by' means you passed it.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “elliptical machine”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.