spherule

[ sfer-ool, -yool, sfeer- ]

noun

1. a small sphere or spherical body.

spherule

/ ˈsfɛruːl /

noun

1. a very small sphere or globule

Derived Forms

• ˈspherular, adjective

Other Words From

• spher·u·lar [sfer, -y, oo, -ler, sfeer, -], adjective
• spher·u·late [sfer, -y, oo, -leyt, -lit, sfeer, -], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of spherule¹

From the Late Latin word sphaerula, dating back to 1655–65. See sphere, -ule

Word History and Origins

Origin of spherule¹

C17: from Late Latin sphaerula a little sphere

Example Sentences

They were looking for spherule particles, or tiny fragments of rock, left behind by impact.

From BBC

We found that the spherules along the meteor path have an unusual composition that suggests that they came from outside the solar system.

From Salon

Loeb says additional evidence comes from the trajectory of IM1 as it passed through the atmosphere and broke apart before entering the ocean as spherules.

From Salon

Even if the spherules hit the ocean where Loeb says, they would have likely drifted by tens of kilometers in ocean currents before settling on the seabed, Desch argues.

From Science Magazine

At the expedition’s conclusion, our final count was a whopping 50 spherules, ranging in size at 100–700 microns, with the plurality coming from the search strip I calculated.

From Scientific American

Related Words

• dot
• pellet
• stone