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Oblate vs Spheroid - What's the difference?

oblate | spheroid |

As nouns the difference between oblate and spheroid

is that oblate is (roman catholic church) a person dedicated to a life of religion or monasticism, especially a member of an order without religious vows or a lay member of a religious community while spheroid is a solid of revolution generated by rotating an ellipse about its major (prolate), or minor (oblate) axis.

As adjectives the difference between oblate and spheroid

is that oblate is flattened or depressed at the poles while spheroid is of a shape similar to a squashed sphere.

oblate

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) (m) and its source, post-classical (etyl) .

Noun

(en noun)
  • (Roman Catholic Church) A person dedicated to a life of religion or monasticism, especially a member of an order without religious vows or a lay member of a religious community.
  • A child given up by its parents into the keeping or dedication of a religious order or house.
  • * 2007', The Venerable Bede started as an '''oblate at St Paul's, Jarrow, but by the time of his death in 735 was surely the most learned man in Europe. — Tom Shippey, ‘I Lerne Song’, ''London Review of Books 29:4, p. 19
  • Etymology 2

    From ).

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Flattened or depressed at the poles.
  • The Earth is an oblate spheroid.
  • * 1922', Why should I not speak to him or to any human being who walks upright upon this '''oblate orange? — James Joyce, ''Ulysses
  • * 1997', ‘ ’Tis prolate, still,’ with a long dejected Geordie O. ‘Isn’t it…?’ ‘I’m an Astronomer,– trust me, ’tis gone well to '''oblate .’ — Thomas Pynchon, ''Mason & Dixon
  • Antonyms
    * (l)
    See also
    * (l)

    Anagrams

    * ----

    spheroid

    Alternative forms

    * (archaic)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A solid of revolution generated by rotating an ellipse about its major (prolate), or minor (oblate) axis.
  • UFOs are reported as being either oblate (saucer-shaped) or prolate (cigar-shaped) spheroids .

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Of a shape similar to a squashed sphere.