# oval

/ˈoʊvəɫ/ (US) · /ˈəʊvəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/oval
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. the shape

noun · CEFR A2

a shape that looks like a circle that has been pulled or stretched; an egg shape.

For teachers: a closed convex curve resembling the outline of an egg or an ellipse.

- The artist drew a large oval on the paper to start the face.
- The designer chose a perfect oval for the mirror's frame to soften the sharp vertical lines of the hallway.

### 2. sports field

noun · CEFR B2 · British English · Dialect

a field used for sports like cricket or Australian rules football.

For teachers: a sports ground, typically one designed for cricket or Australian rules football, often characterized by its curved perimeter.

- The whole town gathered at the oval to watch the weekend cricket match.
- Spectators began filling the historic oval hours before the first ball was bowled in the championship final.

Usage: Commonly used in Australia and the UK to refer to specific cricket or football grounds.

Teaching tip: In Australia, 'the oval' is the standard term for the local sports field, whereas in the US, 'field' or 'stadium' is preferred.

### 3. shaped like an egg

adjective · CEFR A2

having a rounded, long shape like an egg.

For teachers: having the quality or form of an oval; elliptical in shape.

- The dining room has a beautiful oval table that seats six people.
- The portrait was housed in an ornate oval frame, which highlighted the subject's delicate features more effectively than a standard rectangle.

## Examples

- The athletes ran around the large grass oval.
- The architect designed the meeting room as a perfect oval to encourage better eye contact among the board members.
- While the orbit of the planet is technically an ellipse, the textbook simplified the diagram by representing the path as a perfect, symmetrical oval.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.