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Webster 1913 Edition


Spheroid

Sphe′roid

,
Noun.
[L.
spheroides
ball-like, spherical, Gr. [GREEK][GREEK][GREEK]; [GREEK][GREEK][GREEK][GREEK] sphere +
εἶδοσ
form: cf. F.
sphéroïde
.]
A body or figure approaching to a sphere, but not perfectly spherical; esp., a solid generated by the revolution of an ellipse about one of its axes.
Oblate spheroid
,
Prolate spheroid
.

Webster 1828 Edition


Spheroid

SPHEROID

,
Noun.
[sphere and form.] A body or figure approaching to a sphere, but not perfectly spherical. A spheroid is oblate or prolate. The earth is found to be a oblate spheroid, that is, flatted at the poles, whereas some astronomers formerly supposed it to be prolate or oblong.