Ovals

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A form resembling a circular or elliptical shape that is smooth and curved in nature, lacking sharp angles or corners, often symbolizing unity or balance
2. A geometric representation that showcases a rounded outline with no abrupt edges, frequently used in design to convey a sense of wholeness and fluidity
3. Shapes that resemble an elongated circle with smooth, continuous curves

Etymology: "Ovals" is simply the plural of "oval," so the word's history is the history of "oval" itself. It comes from the Latin "ovum," meaning "egg," with the suffix "-alis" giving the sense "resembling," so the word literally means "egg-shaped." English took the adjective from the New Latin "ovalis," a formation built on that same root. The egg is the root of the shape, but the shape is not a true ellipse. An oval has one end broader than the other, which is why it reads as egg-like rather than as a simple stretched circle. Mathematicians and designers use "oval" loosely for any closed, smooth curve of this kind, which is why the plural can refer to a whole family of shapes rather than one exact figure.

Synonyms: ellipses, egg shapes, rounded rectangles

Antonyms: squares, rectangles