Spheroid \Sphe"roid\, n. [L. spheroides ball-like, spherical, Gr. ???; ???? sphere + e'i^dos form: cf. F. sph['e]ro["i]de.] A body or figure approaching to a sphere, but not perfectly spherical; esp., a solid generated by the revolution of an ellipse about one of its axes. [1913 Webster] {Oblate spheroid}, {Prolate spheroid}. See {Oblate}, {Prolate}, and {Ellipsoid}. [1913 Webster]
Prolate \Pro"late\, a. [L. prolatus, used as p. p. of proferre to bring forth, to extend; pro + latus, p. p. See {Pro-}, and {Tolerate}. ] Stretched out; extended; especially, elongated in the direction of a line joining the poles; as, a prolate spheroid; -- opposed to {oblate}. [1913 Webster] {Prolate cycloid}. See the Note under {Cycloid}. {Prolate ellipsoid} or {Prolate spheroid} (Geom.), a figure generated by the revolution of an ellipse about its major axis. Contrasted with {oblate spheroid}. See {Ellipsoid of revolution}, under {Ellipsoid}. [1913 Webster]