Spherelike

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Having a shape that resembles or approximates a sphere ; appearing round and three-dimensional like a ball ; characterized by a form that is almost perfectly globular or orb-like
2. Exhibiting qualities of roundness and symmetry typical of a sphere ; shaped in a manner that suggests a spherical object ; formed so as to be nearly circular in all directions, as a globe or ball
3. Possessing the general contour and characteristics of a sphere ; taking on a rounded, orb-shaped appearance ; shaped in a way that is curved and smooth, analogous to the shape of a ball or globe

Etymology: "Spherelike" is a plain compound: the noun "sphere" joined to the suffix "-like," which means "resembling or having the form of." Put together, it describes something that resembles a sphere, which is the sense the meaning line gives as "shaped like a ball." "Sphere" itself comes into English from Old French "sphere," which in turn traces back to Latin "sphaera" and Greek "sphaira," a ball or globe. The "-like" suffix is Old English in origin, from "gelic," meaning "having the same form or appearance," and it has been attached freely to nouns for centuries to make new adjectives.

Synonyms: spherical, round, globular, orbicular

Antonyms: angular, flat, irregular, edged