- Spherical
- 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.
[1913 Webster]
2. Of or pertaining to a sphere. [1913 Webster]
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. [1913 Webster]
Knaves, thieves, and treachers by spherical predominance. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
Though the stars were suns, and overburned Their spheric limitations. --Mrs. Browning. [1913 Webster]
{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}. [1913 Webster] -- {Spher"ic*al*ly}, adv. -- {Spher"ic*al*ness}, n. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.