Spheroidal

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Spheroidal \Sphe*roid"al\, a. [Cf. F. sph['e]ro["i]dal.]
     Having the form of a spheroid. -- {Sphe*roid"al*ly}, adv.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     {Spheroidal state} (Physics.), the state of a liquid, as
        water, when, on being thrown on a surface of highly heated


        metal, it rolls about in spheroidal drops or masses, at a
        temperature several degrees below ebullition, and without
        actual contact with the heated surface, -- a phenomenon
        due to the repulsive force of heat, the intervention of a
        cushion of nonconducting vapor, and the cooling effect of
        evaporation.
        [1913 Webster] Spheroidic

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  spheroidal
       adj : in the form of an ellipse [syn: {ellipsoid}, {ellipsoidal},
             {non-circular}]