{ } 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 ]

n. [ Cf. F. sphéricité. ] The quality or state of being spherial; roundness; as, the sphericity of the planets, or of a drop of water. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A small sphere. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Math.) The doctrine of the sphere; the science of the properties and relations of the circles, figures, and other magnitudes of a sphere, produced by planes intersecting it; spherical geometry and trigonometry. [ 1913 Webster ]