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, 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

/ ˈəʊvəl /

noun

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

Other Word Forms

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

They are relieved to learn that the stone and an oval of smaller rocks outlining a faux grave were judged in bad taste and that the attempted humorist finally removed them.

From Los Angeles Times

The oval painting measures just two and a quarter inches in height.

From BBC

We connect via video conferencing software, her location in the U.S. a secret, and Mariya appears in her anime form, her silver-white hair occasionally obscuring her welcoming oval eyes, which blink often as she speaks.

From Los Angeles Times

Five of the children were on the castle when the gales swept it up and flung it across the school oval.

From BBC

But not to be outdone, Cadbury has since raised the stakes with its oval ambition.

From BBC

Related Words

• elliptical