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
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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.
Examples of spherical in a Sentence
the planet Earth is not, in fact, perfectly spherical
Recent Examples on the Web
Every plasma event was sending out a spherical shock front that expanded in a steady way.
—
Jayson Stewart, IEEE Spectrum, 5 Mar. 2025
Galactic dark matter content is thought to be heavily concentrated in the centers of galaxies, but it's believed the substance also extends out to form a spherical shell that extends far beyond the limits of a galaxy's visible matter.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 28 Feb. 2025
One of the most striking aspects of the design is the introduction of cloud-like spherical structures to one side of the plaza.
—Bridget Borgobello, New Atlas, 23 Feb. 2025
Berries are bright red in cold months, small and spherical.
—Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 23 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spherical
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Jayson Stewart, IEEE Spectrum, 5 Mar. 2025
Galactic dark matter content is thought to be heavily concentrated in the centers of galaxies, but it's believed the substance also extends out to form a spherical shell that extends far beyond the limits of a galaxy's visible matter.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 28 Feb. 2025
One of the most striking aspects of the design is the introduction of cloud-like spherical structures to one side of the plaza.
—Bridget Borgobello, New Atlas, 23 Feb. 2025
Berries are bright red in cold months, small and spherical.
—Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 23 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spherical
Cite this Entry
“Spherical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spherical. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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spherical
adjective
spher·i·cal
ˈsfir-i-kəl
ˈsfer-
: relating to or having the form of a sphere or part of a sphere
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