spherical

adjective

spher·​i·​cal ˈsfir-i-kəl 

ˈsfer-

1

: having the form of a sphere or of one of its segments

2

: relating to or dealing with a sphere or its properties

spherically

ˈsfir-i-k(ə-)lē 

ˈsfer-

adverb

Did you know?

Something spherical is like a sphere in being round, or more or less round, in three dimensions. Apples and oranges are both spherical, for example, even though they're never perfectly round. A spheroid has a roughly spherical shape; so an asteroid, for instance, is often spheroidal—fairly round, but lumpy.

Synonyms

• global
• globular
• round

Examples of spherical in a Sentence

the planet Earth is not, in fact, perfectly spherical

Recent Examples on the Web

Unlike other deep-dive submersibles, which use a spherical shape to evenly distribute intense pressure, the Titan was shaped like a pill to accommodate more passengers. —Matthew Carey, Deadline, 17 Dec. 2024

The inner part of the machine rotates like a screw, combining the molecules, converting the structure of the plant material from spherical shapes to fibers. —Discover Magazine, 28 Nov. 2024

Passengers are positioned in front of a spherical screen on three levels. —Dewayne Bevil, Orlando Sentinel, 20 Nov. 2024

Venues may also offer opportunities to purchase limited-edition merchandise or have in-suite ice machines—or, in the case of the Vegas Golden Knights’ T-Mobile Arena, an entire ice room, churning out spherical cubes and clear ice for cocktails. —Brett Knight, Forbes, 24 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing spherical

• spherical aberration
• spherical angle
• spherical coordinate
• spherical geometry
• spherical polygon
• spherical triangle
• spherical trigonometry

Kids Definition

spherical

adjective

spher·​i·​cal ˈsfir-i-kəl 

ˈsfer-

: relating to or having the form of a sphere or part of a sphere

spherically

-k(ə-)lē 

adverb