from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Globular \Glob"u*lar\, a. [Cf. F. globulaire.]
Globe-shaped; having the form of a ball or sphere; spherical,
or nearly so; as, globular atoms. --Milton.
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{Globular chart}, a chart of the earth's surface constructed
on the principles of the globular projection.
{Globular projection} (Map Projection), a perspective
projection of the surface of a hemisphere upon a plane
parallel to the base of the hemisphere, the point of sight
being taken in the axis produced beyond the surface of the
opposite hemisphere a distance equal to the radius of the
sphere into the sine of 45[deg].
{Globular sailing}, sailing on the arc of a great circle, or
so as to make the shortest distance between two places;
circular sailing.
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from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Circular \Cir"cu*lar\, a. [L. circularis, fr. circulus circle:
cf. F. circulaire. See {Circle}.]
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1. In the form of, or bounded by, a circle; round.
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2. repeating itself; ending in itself; reverting to the point
of beginning; hence, illogical; inconclusive; as, circular
reasoning.
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3. Adhering to a fixed circle of legends; cyclic; hence,
mean; inferior. See {Cyclic poets}, under {Cyclic}.
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Had Virgil been a circular poet, and closely adhered
to history, how could the Romans have had Dido?
--Dennis.
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4. Addressed to a circle, or to a number of persons having a
common interest; circulated, or intended for circulation;
as, a circular letter.
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A proclamation of Henry III., . . . doubtless
circular throughout England. --Hallam.
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5. Perfect; complete. [Obs.]
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A man so absolute and circular
In all those wished-for rarities that may take
A virgin captive. --Massinger.
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{Circular are}, any portion of the circumference of a circle.
{Circular cubics} (Math.), curves of the third order which
are imagined to pass through the two circular points at
infinity.
{Circular functions}. (Math.) See under {Function}.
{Circular instruments}, mathematical instruments employed for
measuring angles, in which the graduation extends round
the whole circumference of a circle, or 360[deg].
{Circular lines}, straight lines pertaining to the circle, as
sines, tangents, secants, etc.
{Circular note}{ or Circular letter}.
(a) (Com.) See under {Credit}.
(b) (Diplomacy) A letter addressed in identical terms to a
number of persons.
{Circular numbers} (Arith.), those whose powers terminate in
the same digits as the roots themselves; as 5 and 6, whose
squares are 25 and 36. --Bailey. --Barlow.
{Circular points at infinity} (Geom.), two imaginary points
at infinite distance through which every circle in the
plane is, in the theory of curves, imagined to pass.
{Circular polarization}. (Min.) See under {Polarization}.
{Circular sailing} or {Globular sailing} (Naut.), the method
of sailing by the arc of a great circle.
{Circular saw}. See under {Saw}.
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