oval

[ oh-vuhl ]

adjective

1. having the general form, shape, or outline of an egg; egg-shaped.
2. ellipsoidal or elliptical.

noun

1. an object of oval shape.
2. a body or plane figure that is oval in shape or outline.
3. an elliptical field or a field on which an elliptical track is laid out, as for athletic contests.
4. Informal. a football.

Oval

¹

/ ˈəʊvəl /

noun

1. the Oval
   the Oval a cricket ground in south London, in the borough of Lambeth

oval

²

/ ˈəʊvəl; əʊˈvælɪtɪ /

adjective

1. having the shape of an ellipse or ellipsoid

noun

1. anything that is oval in shape, such as a sports ground

Derived Forms

• ˈovalness, noun
• ˈovally, adverb

Other Words From

• oval·ly adverb
• oval·ness noun
• half-oval adjective noun
• pseudo·oval adjective
• pseudo·oval·ly adverb
• semi·oval adjective
• semi·oval·ly adverb
• semi·oval·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of oval¹

1560–70; < New Latin ōvālis, equivalent to Latin ōv ( um ) egg ¹ + -ālis -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of oval¹

C16: from Medieval Latin ōvālis, from Latin ōvum egg

Example Sentences

During the early Holocene, summers in the northern hemisphere were hotter as the Earth moved in a more oval-shaped orbit, causing larger swings between hot and cold.

From Popular-Science

Tracked on a GPS, our path looks like a toddler drawing ovals.

From Popular-Science

A daring plan for downsizing would mean the end of the global empire of old, but it could ensure that the blue oval survives on what Ford does best.

From Fortune

The blue oval shows the ring of auroras that continually surround Jupiter’s north pole.

From Nautilus

Then we move forward to take on the sad excuse for a president now occupying the oval office.

From Washington Blade

He attended White House strategy sessions on Vietnam and Israel; a private phone line linked his court office to the Oval Office.

From The Daily Beast

His Oval Office radio addresses were famously labeled “Fireside Chats” and he called listening citizens “my friends.”

From The Daily Beast

Do Americans prefer a stressed out president — no fun, no sun, no life outside of the Oval Office or the Situation Room?

From The Daily Beast

Her eyes dart through oval, wire-rimmed glasses that rest gently on her round cheeks.

From The Daily Beast

These types of comments coming from the White House, from the Oval Office, it takes your breath away.

From The Daily Beast

In cross-section the burrows varied from round (three inches in diameter) to oval (three inches high and four inches wide).

From Project Gutenberg

In the centre of the room is an oval table; some dozen men are sitting at it; as many more stand behind their chairs.

From Project Gutenberg

Each contains a single round or oval nucleus, often located eccentrically.

From Project Gutenberg

Generally, the ends are rounded and the striations faint, or only irregularly round or oval yellow masses are found.

From Project Gutenberg

They are asymmetrically oval, about 50 in length, and often contain a partially developed embryo.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• elliptical