spheroidal

or sphe·roi·dic

[ sfi-roid-l ]

adjective

1. pertaining to a spheroid or spheroids.
2. shaped like a spheroid; approximately spherical.

Other Words From

• sphe·roidal·ly sphe·roidi·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of spheroidal¹

First recorded in 1775–85; spheroid + -al ¹

Example Sentences

Draco and Sculptor: These are dwarf spheroidal galaxies close to the Milky Way.

From Washington Post

Eventually, if massive enough, it becomes a spheroidal blob, known as an elliptical galaxy, that will likely never birth a new star again.

From Scientific American

The large distribution of gas around a quasar-blocking object could come from a spheroidal shell of gas around the galaxy or from extended filaments funneling gas into it.

From Scientific American

If such a world rotates with a five-hour day, it maintains a roughly spheroidal shape even as it balloons in size as the temperatures rise.

From Scientific American

In the decades following Shapley’s discovery, astronomers spotted additional dwarf spheroidal galaxies revolving around the Milky Way.

From Scientific American

Related Words

• rounded