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The Collaborative International Dictionary
Spherical opening

Spherical \Spher"ic*al\, Spheric \Spher"ic\, a. [L. sphaericus, Gr. ???: cf. F. sph['e]rique.]

  1. Having the form of a sphere; like a sphere; globular; orbicular; as, a spherical body.

  2. Of or pertaining to a sphere.

  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.

    Knaves, thieves, and treachers by spherical predominance.
    --Shak.

    Though the stars were suns, and overburned Their spheric limitations.
    --Mrs. Browning.

    Spherical angle, Spherical co["o]rdinate, 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.