Oblateness

ob·late ¹  (blt, -blt)

adj.

1. Having the shape of a spheroid generated by rotating an ellipse about its shorter axis.

2. Having an equatorial diameter greater than the distance between poles; compressed along or flattened at the poles: Planet Earth is an oblate solid.

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[Probably New Latin obltus : Latin ob-, toward; see ob- + Latin (pr)ltus; see prolate.]

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oblately adv.

oblateness n.

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ob·late ²  (blt)

n.

1. A layperson dedicated to religious life.

2. Oblate Roman Catholic Church A member of one of various religious communities for men or women.

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[Medieval Latin obltus, from Latin, past participle of offerre, to offer; see offer.]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

oblateness - the property possessed by a round shape that is flattened at the poles; "the oblateness of the planet" ellipticity bulginess, roundedness - the property possessed by a rounded convexity