oval

American  

[oh-vuhl] / ˈoʊ vəl /

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 British  

/ 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

Oval ² British  

/ ˈəʊvəl /

noun

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

---

Other Word Forms

• half-oval adjective
• ovally adverb
• ovalness noun
• pseudooval adjective
• pseudoovally adverb
• semioval adjective
• semiovally adverb
• semiovalness noun

Etymology

Origin of oval

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

Example Sentences

In the center of the room, there are six wooden chairs surrounding a long oval table.

From Literature

The slightly oval shape of the moon’s orbit brings it closer to Earth at certain times of the year, when it covers a slightly larger area of the sky, according to the Griffith Observatory.

From Los Angeles Times

This happens because the Moon does not orbit the Earth in a perfect circle - its axis of orbit more closely resembles an oval.

From BBC

But for some, the true treat will turn out to be the classic oval or oblong-shaped russet spud, good for baking, frying or just plain admiring.

From The Wall Street Journal

The room smelled strongly of cedar, which came from an oval soaking tub at the center of the bathroom.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• elliptical