# spherical

/ˈsfɛɹɪkəɫ/ (US) · /sfˈɛɹɪkəl/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. shaped like a ball

adjective · CEFR B2

shaped like a sphere or a perfect ball.

For teachers: having the three-dimensional shape of a sphere; globular.

- The artist placed a large spherical stone in the center of the garden.
- The telescope captured images of spherical gas clouds expanding outward from the dying star at incredible speeds.

### 2. relating to spheres

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

relating to spheres or the geometry of round objects.

For teachers: of, relating to, or involving spheres or their mathematical properties.

- We studied spherical geometry to understand how to map the Earth's surface.
- Calculations in spherical trigonometry are essential for long-distance navigation and determining the positions of celestial bodies.

### 3. coordinate system

adjective · CEFR C2 · Technical

a way to find a point in space using a distance and two angles.

For teachers: relating to a three-dimensional coordinate system where a position is defined by its distance from an origin and two angular coordinates.

- The physicist used spherical coordinates to solve the gravity problem.
- Converting the data into spherical coordinates allowed the researchers to model the acoustic reflections within the dome more accurately.

Usage: Usually modifies 'coordinates' or 'system'.

### 4. astronomy of the past

adjective · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Literary

relating to the old idea that stars and planets were fixed in giant invisible balls around the Earth.

For teachers: relating to the celestial orbs or the concentric shells in which heavenly bodies were thought to be set in ancient astronomy.

- Ancient scholars believed in the music of the spherical heavens.
- The poet drew heavily upon the medieval concept of spherical harmony to describe the order of the universe.

## Examples

- The earth is not a perfect spherical shape.
- The scientist observed small, spherical bubbles forming on the surface of the liquid during the experiment.
- In many physics problems, complex objects are treated as spherical masses to simplify the initial calculations of gravitational pull and orbital mechanics.

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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.