annular

[an-yuh-ler]

See more synonyms for annular on Thesaurus.com

adjective

having the form of a ring.
(of a carpenter's nail) having a series of concentric grooves to improve holding power.

Origin of annular

1565–75; < Latin annulāris, equivalent to annul(us) ring (variant of ānulus) + -āris -ar¹

Related formsan·nu·lar·i·ty, nounan·nu·lar·ly, adverbin·ter·an·nu·lar, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for annular

circular, globular, rounded, spherical, annulate, ringed

Examples from the Web for annular

Historical Examples of annular

Hind found that the eclipse was annular on the central line.
The Story of Eclipses
George Chambers
In 1567 there was an annular eclipse visible at Rome on April 9.
The Story of Eclipses
George Chambers
In 1748 Scotland was again favoured with a central eclipse, but it was only annular.
The Story of Eclipses
George Chambers
The angle of the anterior chamber is a true angle and not an annular sinus.
Glaucoma
Various
One of the annular constrictions is constantly in the sagittal plane (separating the right and left halves of the shell).
Report on the Radiolaria Collected by H.M.S. Challenger During the Years 1873-1876, First Part: Porulosa (Spumellaria and Acantharia)
Ernst Haeckel

British Dictionary definitions for annular

annular

adjective

ring-shaped; of or forming a ring

Derived Formsannularity (ˌænjʊˈlærɪtɪ), nounannularly, adverb

Word Origin for annular

C16: from Latin annulāris, from annulus, ānulus ring

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for annular

adj.

"ring-shaped," 1570s, from French annulaire (16c.) or directly from Latin annularis "pertaining to a ring," from annulus, diminutive of anus "ring" (see anus). An annular eclipse (1727) is one in which the dark body of the moon is smaller than the disk of the sun, so that at the height of it the sun appears as a ring of light. Related: Annularity.

annular in Medicine