prolate
Extended at poles
Prolate describes a shape elongated along one axis, like a football or egg standing upright—a sphere stretched at the poles.
The term appears in geometry and astronomy: a prolate spheroid, The planet's prolate shape suggested rapid rotation.
Prolate contrasts with oblate, which describes shapes flattened at the poles, like Earth.
Oval solid shape
- spheroidNearly round solid
- ovalElongated rounded shape
- oblongElongated in one direction
- ovoidResembling an egg's form
elliptical · cigar-shaped · spindle-shaped · fusiform · egg-shaped · elongated · three-dimensional · curvature
Rotation reference line
- radiusCenter-to-perimeter distance
- diameterDistance across through center
- eccentricityUnconventional behavior or nature
- curvatureDeviation from flatness
semi-major · flattening · equatorial · polar · circumference · volume · cross-section
Star-orbiting spherical body
- EarthOur world
- JupiterLargest solar system planet
- SaturnRinged gas giant
- starLuminous astronomical object
pulsar · celestial · rotation · spin · bulge · equatorial · polar · flattening
Turning on an axis
- spinRapid rotation around axis
- centrifugalDirected away from axis
- inertiaResistance to altered motion
- torqueRotational force measurement
deformation · stress · strain · equilibrium · tensor · symmetry · precession
ellipsoid
Oval solid shape
ovoid · elliptical · cigar-shaped · spindle-shaped · fusiform · egg-shaped · elongated · three-dimensional · curvature · surface
axis
Rotation reference line
- radiusCenter-to-perimeter distance
- diameterDistance across through center
- eccentricityUnconventional behavior or nature
curvature · semi-major · flattening · equatorial · polar · circumference · volume · cross-section
planet
Star-orbiting spherical body
star · pulsar · celestial · rotation · spin · bulge · equatorial · polar · flattening · gravitational
rotation
Turning on an axis
- spinRapid rotation around axis
- centrifugalDirected away from axis
- inertiaResistance to altered motion
torque · deformation · stress · strain · equilibrium · tensor · symmetry · precession
- pollenpollen, pollen grains, pollen grain, bee pollen, grass pollen
- conic sectionsellipse, parabola, hyperbola, circle, conic section
prolateoblate
Squashed-sphere shape
flattened · squashed · compressed · discoid · disk-shaped