oval

[ oh-vuhl ]

adjective

1. having the general form, shape, or outline of an egg; egg-shaped.
2. ellipsoidal or elliptical.

noun

1. an object of oval shape.
2. a body or plane figure that is oval in shape or outline.
3. an elliptical field or a field on which an elliptical track is laid out, as for athletic contests.
4. Informal. a football.

Oval

¹

/ ˈəʊvəl /

noun

1. the Oval
   a cricket ground in south London, in the borough of Lambeth

oval

²

/ ˈəʊvəl; əʊˈvælɪtɪ /

adjective

1. having the shape of an ellipse or ellipsoid

noun

1. anything that is oval in shape, such as a sports ground

Derived Forms

• ˈovally, adverb
• ˈovalness, noun

Other Words From

• oval·ly adverb
• oval·ness noun
• half-oval adjective noun
• pseudo·oval adjective
• pseudo·oval·ly adverb
• semi·oval adjective
• semi·oval·ly adverb
• semi·oval·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of oval¹

1560–70; < New Latin ōvālis, equivalent to Latin ōv ( um ) egg ¹ + -ālis -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of oval¹

C16: from Medieval Latin ōvālis, from Latin ōvum egg

Example Sentences

His team has said to expect a flurry of executive orders - directives from the US president - out of the Oval Office in the first week.

From BBC

The two men sat in the Oval Office and shook hands, a somewhat disorienting image given their history of volatile public feuds.

From Salon

“This is what you’re seeing, kind of the beginning of that — when you see the current president and the president who’s coming in — sitting down in the Oval Office and having a discussion.”

From Los Angeles Times

After he was elected in 2016, Trump met with then-President Obama in the Oval Office for 90 minutes, an encounter that Obama’s advisors described at the time as less awkward than expected.

From Los Angeles Times

"The South East Stars' positive brand of cricket was an important factor in joining the club," she added, in reference to the team who formerly played at The Oval in the previous domestic structure.

From BBC

Related Words

• elliptical