{ } a. [ Cf. F. atmosphérique. ] 1. Of or pertaining to the atmosphere; of the nature of, or resembling, the atmosphere; as, atmospheric air; the atmospheric envelope of the earth. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Existing or occurring in the atmosphere. [ 1913 Webster ]

The lower atmospheric current. Darwin. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Caused, or operated on, by the atmosphere; as, an atmospheric effect; an atmospheric engine. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Dependent on the atmosphere. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

In am so atmospherical a creature. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

Atmospheric engine, a steam engine whose piston descends by the pressure of the atmosphere, when the steam which raised it is condensed within the cylinder. Tomlinson. --
Atmospheric line (Steam Engin.), the equilibrium line of an indicator card. Steam is expanded “down to the atmosphere” when its pressure is equal to that of the atmosphere. (See Indicator card.) --
Atmospheric pressure, the pressure exerted by the atmosphere, not merely downwards, but in every direction. In amounts to about 14.7 Ibs. on each square inch. --
Atmospheric railway, one in which pneumatic power, obtained from compressed air or the creation of a vacuum, is the propelling force. --
Atmospheric tides. See under Tide. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In relation to the atmosphere. [ 1913 Webster ]

/mhw>, a. [ Helix + spheric, spherical. ] Spiral. [ 1913 Webster ]

Helispherical line (Math.). the rhomb line in navigation. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ Cf. F. hémisphérique. ] Containing, or pertaining to, a hemisphere; as, a hemispheric figure or form; a hemispherical body. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Mono- + spherical. ] Consisting of one sphere only. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. Exactly spherical; globular. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. Having the figure of a half sphere. Kirwan. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ L. sphaericus, Gr. &unr_;&unr_;&unr_;: cf. F. sphérique. ] 1. Having the form of a sphere; like a sphere; globular; orbicular; as, a spherical body. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Of or pertaining to a sphere. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Of or pertaining to the heavenly orbs, or to the sphere or spheres in which, according to ancient astronomy and astrology, they were set. [ 1913 Webster ]

Knaves, thieves, and treachers by spherical predominance. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Though the stars were suns, and overburned
Their spheric limitations. Mrs. Browning. [ 1913 Webster ]

Spherical angle,
Spherical coordinate,
Spherical excess, etc. See under Angle, Coordinate, etc. --
Spherical geometry, that branch of geometry which treats of spherical magnitudes; the doctrine of the sphere, especially of the circles described on its surface. --
Spherical harmonic analysis. See under Harmonic, a. --
Spherical lune, portion of the surface of a sphere included between two great semicircles having a common diameter. --
Spherical opening, the magnitude of a solid angle. It is measured by the portion within the solid angle of the surface of any sphere whose center is the angular point. --
Spherical polygon, portion of the surface of a sphere bounded by the arcs of three or more great circles. --
Spherical projection, the projection of the circles of the sphere upon a plane. See Projection. --
Spherical sector. See under Sector. --
Spherical segment, the segment of a sphere. See under Segment. --
Spherical triangle, re on the surface of a sphere, bounded by the arcs of three great circles which intersect each other. --
Spherical trigonometry. See Trigonometry. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Spher"ic*al*ly, adv. -- Spher"ic*al*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Nearly spherical; having a figure resembling that of a sphere. [ 1913 Webster ]