spherical
Americanadjective
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shaped like a sphere
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of or relating to a sphere
spherical geometry
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geometry formed on the surface of or inside a sphere
a spherical triangle
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of or relating to heavenly bodies
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of or relating to the spheres of the Ptolemaic or the Copernican system
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Other Word Forms
- nonspheric adjective
- nonspherical adjective
- nonsphericality noun
- nonspherically adverb
- quasi-spherical adjective
- quasi-spherically adverb
- sphericality noun
- spherically adverb
- sphericalness noun
- subspheric adjective
- subspherical adjective
- unspherical adjective
Etymology
Origin of spherical
1515–25; < Late Latin sphēric ( us ) ( spherics 1 ) + -al 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The steep rise in the spectrum that inspired the name The Cliff can be explained by a dense, spherical, turbulent gas envelope around an active galactic nucleus.
From Science Daily
In Belgian "Singel" beers, these shells behave as though many small, spherical particles are tightly packed across the bubble surface.
From Science Daily
During its life, a star keeps its spherical shape through a very delicate balance between the outward pressure created by the central engine and the gravity that compresses the star.
From Space Scoop
They added a molecular tag to the spherical nucleic acids that glowed under near-infrared light.
From Science Daily
The 87-foot diameter spherical screen wraps above, below and behind us, but an emphasis on couch seating invites a cooperative environment.
From Los Angeles Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
