ovoid

American  

[oh-void] / ˈoʊ vɔɪd /

adjective

1. egg-shaped; having the solid form of an egg.

2. ovate.

---

noun

1. an ovoid body.

ovoid British  

/ ˈəʊvɔɪd /

adjective

1. egg-shaped

2. botany (of a fruit or similar part) egg-shaped with the broader end at the base Compare obovoid

---

noun

1. something that is ovoid

Other Word Forms

• subovoid
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of ovoid

From the New Latin word ōvoīdēs, dating back to 1820–30. See ovi-, -oid

Explanation

Something that's shaped like an egg is an ovoid. If you want to impress your friends, call that sculpture in the park that looks like an oval an ovoid. Ovoid can also be used as an adjective that means "egg-shaped," as in the ovoid chocolates in a box of candy. Ovoid comes from the Latin word ovum, meaning "egg." The suffix -oid means "like." When you combine those, you can easily see how ovoid came to mean "egg-like." To correctly pronounce ovoid, accent the first syllable and give it the long o sound: "OH-void."

Example Sentences

Ovoid or fireplug shapes are commoner, but a secret of these clothes is that they look darlin' on almost everyone.

From Time Magazine Archive

The following table shews the dimensions of both compared with those of an ostrich's egg:—   Ovoid egg.

From The Romance of Natural History, Second Series by Gosse, Philip Henry

Ovoid, -al, ō′void, -al, adj. oval: egg-shaped.—n. an egg-shaped body.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 3 of 4: N-R) by Various

With the Ovoid sitting exactly against the skull, man had but to will himself in any direction, at any livable height, and the action took place.

From Astounding Stories of Super-Science July 1930 by Bates, Harry

Ovoid spike rush, 118Ox-eye daisy, 163Oyster-plant, 170 Paint brush, 167 Pa�le-a, Pa�let, the upper bract which with the floral glume incloses the flower in grasses.

From Seeds of Michigan Weeds Bulletin 260, Michigan State Agricultural College Experiment Station, Division of Botany, March, 1910 by Beal, W. J. (William James)