English Explanatory Dictionary

ellipsoid

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A surface, all of whose cross sections are elliptic or circular (including the sphere), that generalises the ellipse and in Cartesian coordinates (x, y, z) is a quadric with equation x²/a² + y²/b² + z²/c² = 1.
  2. Such a surface used as a model of the shape of the earth.
adj
  1. Shaped like an ellipse; elliptical.
  2. Of or pertaining to an ellipse; elliptic.
  3. Having the tridimensional shape of an ellipse rotated on its long axis.

Pronunciation

/ɪˈlɪp.sɔɪd/ /əˈlɪp.sɔɪd/ /iˈlɪp.sɔɪd/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Qwertygiy-ellipsoid.wav /əˈlɪp.soɪd/ /ɪˈlɪp.soɪd/

Word forms

ellipsoid ellipsoids more ellipsoid most ellipsoid

Etymology

From ellipse + -oid.

Related words

ellipsoidal subellipsoid geoid globoid ovoid globose oblong

Derived words

Bessel ellipsoid ellipsoid geodesic ellipsoid method ellipsoid of revolution ellipsoid packing Hayford ellipsoid hemiellipsoid hyperellipsoid Jacobi ellipsoid scalene ellipsoid triaxial ellipsoid
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