spheroidal
/sfiə'rɔidl/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Having the nature or shape of an ellipsoid: Describes an object that is approximately spherical but not perfectly round; it is a three-dimensional shape that is elongated or flattened at the poles, resembling a sphere that has been slightly stretched or compressed.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- The planet Earth is not a perfect sphere; it is a spheroidal body.
- The artist molded the clay into a smooth, spheroidal form.
- Many galaxies have a spheroidal component at their center.
Advanced Usage
- Scientific Context: The term is often used in mathematics, astronomy, geology, and physics to describe the shape of celestial bodies, cells, or particles.
- The study focused on the dynamics of spheroidal stellar systems.
- Technical Description: Used to specify a shape that is an ellipsoid of revolution.
- The engineer calculated the volume of the spheroidal tank.
Variants and Related Words
- Spheroid (noun): A solid figure that is nearly spherical; an ellipsoid.
- An oblate spheroid is the shape of the Earth.
- Ellipsoidal (adjective): Relating to or having the form of an ellipsoid. This is a close synonym, though "ellipsoidal" can be more mathematically precise, while "spheroidal" often implies a shape very close to a sphere.
- The ellipsoidal model provided a more accurate calculation.
Synonyms
- Ellipsoidal: Having the shape of an ellipsoid.
- Ovoid: Egg-shaped; broadly elliptical.
- Globular: Spherical; globe-shaped. (Note: "Globular" often implies a shape closer to a perfect sphere than "spheroidal" does.)
Antonyms
- Angular: Having sharp corners or edges.
- Polygonal: Having the form of a polygon; many-sided.
- Cubical: Having the shape of a cube.
Adjective
- having the nature or shape of an ellipsoid