Spheroid

(sfēroid.) [FromGr. sphaira, a sphere, and eidos, form.] A body or figure approaching to a sphere, but not perfectly spherical. A S. is either oblate or prolate. The earth is found to be an oblate S., that is, flatted at the poles; whereas an opinion had been formed by some astronomers, that it was a prolate or oblong sphere. [s. 846]