oblate

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

oblate
    adj 1: having the equatorial diameter greater than the polar
           diameter; being flattened at the poles [syn: {oblate},
           {pumpkin-shaped}] [ant: {prolate}, {watermelon-shaped}]
    n 1: a lay person dedicated to religious work or the religious
         life

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Oblate \Ob*late"\, a. [L. oblatus, used as p. p. of offerre to
   bring forward, offer, dedicate; ob (see {Ob-}) + latus borne,
   for tlatus. See {Tolerate}.]
   [1913 Webster]
   1. (Geom.) Flattened or depressed at the poles; as, the earth
      is an oblate spheroid.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Offered up; devoted; consecrated; dedicated; -- used
      chiefly or only in the titles of Roman Catholic orders.
      See {Oblate}, n.
      [1913 Webster]

   {Oblate ellipsoid} or {Oblate spheroid} (Geom.), a solid
      generated by the revolution of an ellipse about its minor
      axis; an oblatum. Contrasted with {prolate spheroid}. See
      {Ellipsoid of revolution}, under {Ellipsoid}.
      [1913 Webster]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Oblate \Ob*late"\, n. [From {Oblate}, a.] (R. C. Ch.)
      (a) One of an association of priests or religious women
          who have offered themselves to the service of the
          church. There are three such associations of priests,
          and one of women, called oblates.
      (b) One of the Oblati.
          [1913 Webster]