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Glite Dictionary
spherical geometry

spherical geometry

7.6
Study of points, lines, and shapes on the surface of a sphere, like the Earth
  • noun
  • /ˈsfɪrɪkəl dʒiˈɒmɪtri/
  • Specialized
translation icon : geometría esférica
  • In spherical geometry, the sum of the angles of a triangle exceeds 180 degrees.

Examples

  • The study of spherical geometry is essential in understanding global navigation.

  • Sailors once used spherical geometry to chart their courses across the oceans.

  • The study of spherical geometry is essential for understanding the universe.

  • In spherical geometry, the angles of a triangle sum to more than 180 degrees.

  • In spherical geometry, the sum of the angles of a triangle exceeds 180 degrees.

  • Sailors once used spherical geometry to chart their courses across the oceans.

  • The study of spherical geometry is essential in understanding global navigation.

Surface Forms

spherical geometry singular
spherical geometries plural

Morphology

spherical + geometry

The meaning is directly predictable from combining 'spherical' (having the form of a sphere) with 'geometry' (the study of shapes and their properties): the phrase simply denotes geometry on a sphere. This adjective+noun composition is a regular, cross‑linguistically common pattern, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Spherical geometry comes from studying shapes on a sphere or globe. Imagine drawing triangles on a round ball where straight lines bend and angles can add to more than 180 degrees, so the term now means the rules for points, lines and shapes on the 'surface' of a sphere.