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. -- Spher"ic*al*ly, adv. -- Spher"ic*al*ness, n.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)