orbicular

[awr-bik-yuh-ler]

adjective

1. like an orb; ringlike; circular; spherical; rounded.

orbicular

/ ɔːˈbɪkjʊlə, ɔːˌbɪkjʊˈlærɪtɪ /

adjective

1. circular or spherical

2. (of a leaf or similar flat part) circular or nearly circular

3. rare,  rounded or total

Other Word Forms

• orbicularity noun
• orbicularness noun
• orbicularly adverb
• suborbicular adjective
• suborbicularly adverb
• suborbicularity noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of orbicular¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English orbiculer, from Old French orbiculaire and Late Latin orbiculāris “circular, spherical,” equivalent to Latin orbi(s) “disk” + -cul(us) diminutive suffix + -āris; orb, -cule ¹, -ar ¹

Example Sentences

It is — I’m not sure I’m going to pronounce this right — an orbicular batfish, related to spadefish that you can find on the East Coast.

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Shell ovate, smooth, obscure sea green; outer lip above immarginate; inner lip broad, flat; perforations numerous, very small, orbicular and smooth.

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Flower coriaceous, mostly orbicular or ovate, flat on the inner side, convex on the outer.

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The eggs of this shell, contained in a transparent orbicular nidus, the size of a turtle's egg, were found thrown up on the sea-beach of the island.

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Sepals.—Two; orbicular; thin; papery; two to four lines across; whitish; equaling the petals.

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Related Words

• bulbous 
• curled www.thesaurus.com
• curved www.thesaurus.com
• cylindrical 
• elliptical 
• oval 
• rounded 
• spherical