spherical

Often spher·ic

[sfer-i-kuhl, sfeer-]

adjective

1. having the form of a sphere; globular.

   Synonyms: rounded

2. formed in or on a sphere, as a figure.

3. of or relating to a sphere or spheres.

4. pertaining to the heavenly bodies, or to their supposed revolving spheres or shells.

5. pertaining to the heavenly bodies regarded astrologically as exerting influence on humankind and events.

spherical

/ ˈsfɛrɪkəl /

adjective

1. shaped like a sphere

2. of or relating to a sphere

   spherical geometry

3. geometry formed on the surface of or inside a sphere

   a spherical triangle

4. 1. of or relating to heavenly bodies

   2. of or relating to the spheres of the Ptolemaic or the Copernican system

Other Word Forms

• sphericality noun
• spherically adverb
• nonspheric adjective
• nonspherical adjective
• nonspherically adverb
• nonsphericality noun
• quasi-spherical adjective
• quasi-spherically adverb
• subspheric adjective
• subspherical adjective
• unspherical adjective
• sphericalness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of spherical¹

1515–25; < Late Latin sphēric ( us ) ( spherics ¹ ) + -al ¹

Example Sentences

The rare gold band, adorned with spherical lapis lazuli beads, dates back to the reign of King Amenemope, a pharaoh of ancient Egypt's 21st Dynasty who ruled from 993 to 984BC.

From BBC

These are not conventional “Saturday Night Fever” spherical mirror balls but small rotating step-pyramids, doubled-up, flat sides pressed together one atop the other and then suspended, like mirror reflections of themselves.

From Los Angeles Times

The lander capsule is a tough, spherical object about a metre wide and weighs nearly half a tonne.

From BBC

He charted his progress in building the bike on YouTube, demonstrating its use although the spherical wheels did come off as the velocity increased.

From BBC

“I keep messing up my curve balls,” she shouts, manically flicking her fingers across her phone screen to throw Poké Balls, the spherical tools used to catch Pokémon, the mission of the game.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• rounded