Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Spherical?

\Spher"ic*al\, Spheric \Spher"ic\, a. [L. sphaericus, Gr. ???: cf. F. sph['e]rique.] 1. Having the form of a sphere; like a sphere; globular; orbicular; as, a spherical body. 2. Of or pertaining to a sphere. 3. Of or pertaining to the heavenly orbs, or to the sphere or spheres in which, according to ancient astronomy and astrology, they were set. Knaves, thieves, and treachers by spherical predominance. --Shak. Though the stars were suns, and overburned Their spheric limitations. --Mrs. Browning. {Spherical angle}, {Spherical co["o]rdinate}, {Spherical excess}, etc. See under {Angle}, {Coordinate}, etc. {Spherical geometry}, that branch of geometry which treats of spherical magnitudes; the doctrine of the sphere, especially of the circles described on its surface. {Spherical harmonic analysis}. See under {Harmonic}, a. {Spherical lune},portion of the surface of a sphere included between two great semicircles having a common diameter. {Spherical opening}, the magnitude of a solid angle. It is measured by the portion within the solid angle of the surface of any sphere whose center is the angular point. {Spherical polygon},portion of the surface of a sphere bounded by the arcs of three or more great circles. {Spherical projection}, the projection of the circles of the sphere upon a plane. See {Projection}. {Spherical sector}. See under {Sector}. {Spherical segment}, the segment of a sphere. See under {Segment}. {Spherical triangle},re on the surface of a sphere, bounded by the arcs of three great circles which intersect each other. {Spherical trigonometry}. See {Trigonometry}. -- {Spher"ic*al*ly}, adv. -- {Spher"ic*al*ness}, n.