oblate
1 of 2adjective
ob·late ä-ˈblāt 
ˈä-ˌblāt
ˈä-ˌblāt : flattened or depressed at the poles
an oblate spheroid
oblateness noun
oblate
2 of 2noun
ob·late ˈä-ˌblāt
1
: a layman living in a monastery under a modified rule and without vows
2
: a member of one of several Roman Catholic communities of men or women
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web
Ethan Siegel, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2021 Still, those oblate derrieres acknowledge that the flat stovetops of our Western kitchens make a rounded cooking vessel difficult to use. James P. Dewan, chicagotribune.com, 16 Feb. 2018 Caroline Delbert, Popular Mechanics, 12 Feb. 2020 This was unexpected at Jupiter—a heavy, fast rotating, oblate (flattened at the poles) planet. Andrew Coates, Newsweek, 8 Mar. 2018
Adjective
Because the Earth rotates, that shape gets compressed at the poles and bulges in the middle, forming a shape known as an oblate spheroid. Ethan Siegel, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2021 Still, those oblate derrieres acknowledge that the flat stovetops of our Western kitchens make a rounded cooking vessel difficult to use. James P. Dewan, chicagotribune.com, 16 Feb. 2018 Noun
But Earth is an oblate spheroid, meaning a 3D shape created by an ellipsis that’s rotating around its shorter axis—like a more rounded jelly donut. Caroline Delbert, Popular Mechanics, 12 Feb. 2020 This was unexpected at Jupiter—a heavy, fast rotating, oblate (flattened at the poles) planet. Andrew Coates, Newsweek, 8 Mar. 2018 Word History
Etymology
Adjective
borrowed from New Latin oblātus, from ob- ob- + -lātus (in prōlātus prolate)
Noun
probably borrowed from French oblat, going back to Middle French, "layperson living in a religious community after bequeathing it property," borrowed from Medieval Latin oblātus "person (as a child) given over to a monastery," derivative of oblātus, adjective, "given over (to a religious community)," going back to Latin, suppletive past participle of offerre "to put in a person's path, provide, offer entry 1" — more at tolerate
First Known Use
Adjective
1705, in the meaning defined above
Noun
1693, in the meaning defined at sense 1
oblates
noun
as in monks
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- monks
- friars
- monastics
- mendicants
- ecclesiastics
- deacons
- clerics
- abbots
- clericals
- bishops
- prelates
- reverends
- brethren
- divines
- presbyters
- monsignors
- clergymen
- preachers
- brothers
- diocesans
- popes
- deans
- archbishops
- archpriests
- churchmen
- dominies
- padres
- rectors
- parsons
- pastors
- confessors
- ministers
- vicars
- clerks
- chaplains
- curés
- nuns
- clergypersons
- missionaries
- anchoresses
- curates
- fathers
- monsignori
- missioners
- shepherds
- high priests
- abbés
- religious
- novices
- abbesses
- Holy Joes
- evangelists
- revivalists
- votaries
- sky pilots
- prioresses
- conventuals
- missionizers
- mother superior
- cloistresses
- ancresses
- Reverend Mother
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- laymen
- laypeople
- lectors
- lay readers
- secular
- seculars