spheroidal

2 definitions found

spheroidal - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Spheroidal \Sphe*roid"al\, a. [Cf. F. sph['e]ro["i]dal.]
     Having the form of a spheroid. -- Sphe*roid"al*ly, adv.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Spheroidal state (Physics.), the state of a liquid, as
        water, when, on being thrown on a surface of highly heated
        metal, it rolls about in spheroidal drops or masses, at a
        temperature several degrees below ebullition, and without
        actual contact with the heated surface, -- a phenomenon
        due to the repulsive force of heat, the intervention of a
        cushion of nonconducting vapor, and the cooling effect of
        evaporation.
        [1913 Webster] Spheroidic

spheroidal - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  spheroidal
      adj 1: having the nature or shape of an ellipsoid [syn:
             ellipsoid, ellipsoidal, spheroidal]