oblate

3 definitions found

oblate - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Oblate \Ob*late"\, a. [L. oblatus, used as p. p. of offerre to
     bring forward, offer, dedicate; ob (see Ob-) + latus borne,
     for tlatus. See Tolerate.]
     [1913 Webster]
     1. (Geom.) Flattened or depressed at the poles; as, the earth
        is an oblate spheroid.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Offered up; devoted; consecrated; dedicated; -- used
        chiefly or only in the titles of Roman Catholic orders.
        See Oblate, n.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Oblate ellipsoid or Oblate spheroid (Geom.), a solid
        generated by the revolution of an ellipse about its minor
        axis; an oblatum. Contrasted with prolate spheroid. See
        Ellipsoid of revolution, under Ellipsoid.
        [1913 Webster]

  Oblate \Ob*late"\, n. [From Oblate, a.] (R. C. Ch.)
        (a) One of an association of priests or religious women
            who have offered themselves to the service of the
            church. There are three such associations of priests,
            and one of women, called oblates.
        (b) One of the Oblati.
            [1913 Webster]

oblate - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  oblate
      adj 1: having the equatorial diameter greater than the polar
             diameter; being flattened at the poles [syn: oblate,
             pumpkin-shaped] [ant: prolate, watermelon-shaped]
      n 1: a lay person dedicated to religious work or the religious
           life