ovate

adjective

ˈō-ˌvāt 

1

: shaped like an egg

2

: having an outline like a longitudinal section of an egg with the basal end broader

ovate leaves

see leaf illustration

Synonyms

• elliptical
• elliptic
• oval
• ovoid
• ovoidal

Examples of ovate in a Sentence

the governor's bald, ovate head makes him an easy target for caricaturists

Recent Examples on the Web

Every bit of ground was drenched in sunlight and steaming in the heat, except for the living room that harbored the only wild population of Chittenango ovate amber snails in the world. —Jessica Suarez Oliver Whang, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2022

Word History

First Known Use

1760, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

ovate

adjective

ˈō-ˌvāt 

: shaped like an egg in outline with the base wider than the end

ovate leaves