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globular

globular

11 6.3
Shaped like a round ball
  • adjective
  • /ˈɡlɒbjʊlər/
translation icon : globular
  • The globe-shaped balloon floated gently in the air, displaying its globular form.
  • globular cluster
  • dense globular

Examples

  • Now consider the same astronomer with the Space Telescope, observing the same globular cluster of stars.

    Academic text (1990)
  • Affectionately known as 47 Tuc, this compact globular cluster displays a distinct golden tinge through an 8-inch or larger telescope.

    Academic text (2002)
  • Ah, those are called a globular cluster of stars.

  • And one thing he tried to do was to count the stars in the globular clusters, which was challenging.

  • And this is the great globular cluster in Hercules.

  • On the other hand, the best estimates of the globular cluster ages ranged from 16 to 18 billion years.

    Academic text (1997)
  • Figure 2 is the H-R diagram for four very old globular clusters, presumably all being roughly the same age.

    Academic text (1997)
  • Both galaxies are surrounded by a nearly spherical and extremely extended system of globular clusters.

    Academic text (1993)
  • Andromeda has about twice as many cataloged globular clusters as the Milky Way.

    Academic text (1993)
  • The faint starlike sources scattered about the center are globular clusters orbiting within M87.

    Academic text (1992)

Synonyms

round
vsglobular
273 1.0

Having the shape of a circle or sphere

refers only to the solid three dimensional circular form rather than flat circles
spherical
vsglobular
18 4.2

Round like a ball

is the general term for that true three dimensional round form
spheroidal
vsglobular
1 7.6

Having the shape of a ball or an egg and almost round

is strictly the term for a perfectly round three dimensional form
ball-shaped
vsglobular
1 2.3

Shaped like a ball or nearly round

is the more precise term for a perfectly round three dimensional shape
orbed
vsglobular
1 8.7

Round and shaped like a ball

denotes a specifically three dimensional round shape rather than general rounding
spheric
vsglobular
6.2

Shaped like a ball

is the common descriptive term rather than a technical label
globose
vsglobular
8.9

Shaped like a ball

is the everyday term for the same fully rounded three dimensional form
globelike
vsglobular
4.1

Having the shape of a round ball

is the standard word for a true globe shape rather than a likeness
orbicular
vsglobular
9.2

A shape that is round like a disk

applies to full three dimensional round solids rather than flat disks
moon-round
vsglobular
6.5

Having a round shape like the moon

means a full globe like solid rather than a moon shaped outline

Compounds

globular pearlite
  • Specialized
9.9

Small round hard parts in steel or iron that form when the metal cools very slowly

How Spherical

globular
11 6.3
rounded
1 2.4
oval
38 1.0
flat
797 1.0

Surface Forms

globular positive

Morphology

globular = globe (transparent) = glob + ular

Formed from the base 'globe' with the adjectival suffix '-ular' meaning 'having the form of a globe', so the meaning is directly derivable.

Etymology

The word globular comes from the Latin globus, which means 'ball' or 'round mass'. Think of a globe or the word global, which come from the same root, so globular means 'shaped like a ball'.