Mathematics and Physics Glossary

Oblate, a. (Geom.) Flattened or depressed at the poles; as, the earth is an oblate spheroid.

-- Oblate ellipsoid or spheroid (Geom.), a solid generated by the revolution of an ellipse about its minor axis; an oblatum. See Ellipsoid of revolution, under Ellipsoid.

Oblatum n.; pl. Oblata. (Geom.) An oblate spheroid; a figure described by the revolution of an ellipse about its minor axis. Cf. Oblongum.

Oblique, a. Not erect or perpendicular; neither parallel to, nor at right angles from, the base; slanting; inclined.

-- Oblique angle, Oblique ascension, etc. See under Angle, Ascension, etc.

-- Oblique circle (Projection), a circle whose plane is oblique to the axis of the primitive plane.

-- Oblique circular cone, n. (Geom.) An oblique circular cone is a NON-right circular cone. The vertex is not placed over the center of the base.

-- Oblique descension (Astron.), the degree or arc of the equator which descends, with a celestial object, below the horizon of an oblique sphere.