oblate

¹

[ ob-leyt, o-bleyt ]

adjective

1. flattened at the poles, as a spheroid generated by the revolution of an ellipse about its shorter axis ( prolate ).

oblate

²

[ ob-leyt, o-bleyt ]

noun

1. a person offered to the service of and living in a monastery, but not under monastic vows or full monastic rule.
2. a lay member of any of various Roman Catholic societies devoted to special religious work.

oblate

¹

/ ˈɒbleɪt /

noun

1. a person dedicated to a monastic or religious life

oblate

²

/ ˈɒbleɪt /

adjective

1. having an equatorial diameter of greater length than the polar diameter Compare prolate

   the earth is an oblate sphere

Derived Forms

• ˈoblately, adverb

Other Words From

• oblate·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of oblate¹

1695–1705; < New Latin oblātus lengthened, equivalent to Latin ob- ob- + ( prō ) lātus prolate

Origin of oblate²

1860–65; < Medieval Latin oblātus, suppletive past participle of offerre to offer

Word History and Origins

Origin of oblate¹

C19: from French oblat, from Medieval Latin oblātus, from Latin offerre to offer

Origin of oblate²

C18: from New Latin oblātus lengthened, from Latin ob- towards + lātus, past participle of ferre to bring

Example Sentences

The characteristic form is round-oblate, regular; Size medium.

From Project Gutenberg

Oblate, or flattened, when the axial diameter is decidedly the shorter; fig. 35.

From Project Gutenberg

His hands went up to his eyes and he stared for a few moments at the pale yellow oblate shape of the sun.

From Project Gutenberg

Oblate, is the reverse of oblong, and means shorter in one direction, than in another.

From Project Gutenberg

(He disengages himself) Why should I not speak to him or to any human being who walks upright upon this oblate orange?

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• ascetic
• austere
• contemplative
• secluded
• solitary