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.

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