orbicularadj.n.
/ɔːˈbɪkjᵿlə/, U.S. /ɔrˈbɪkjələr/ A. adj.
1.
a. Round; circular; discoidal. Now rare.
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the world > space > shape > curvature > roundness > [adjective]
roundc1300
rotund?a1425
orbicular?1440
rotounda1450
trendec1450
orbical1582
roundya1586
rundled1598
orby?1609
orbic1619
rotundal1624
roundwise1633
orbiculatea1650
orbiculated1656
tr. Palladius De re Rustica (Duke Humfrey) (1896) iii. 230 Vpbounde, orbiculer & turned rounde.
1447 O. Bokenham Lives of Saints (Arun.) (1938) 6515 The heuenys orbiculer reuolucyoun From est to west wyth-oute cessacyoun.
1578 J. Banister Hist. Man i. f. 12v The fashion of the neither iawe is Orbicular like a halfe long Circle, the vtmost endes whereof are ascendently reflected.
1596 C. Fitzgeffry Sir Francis Drake sig. Bv Enclaspeth with her winged eminence The worlds orbicular circumference.
1598 G. Chapman tr. Homer Seauen Bks. Iliades iii. 53 Quight through his bright orbiculare targe.
1664 J. Evelyn Sylva xxix. 88 The Trunk or bough of a Tree being cut transversely..sheweth several Circles or Rings more or less Orbicular..one without the other.
1731 Gentleman's Mag. June 238 Signing their Names in an orbicular manner, which they call a round Robin.
1785 W. Combe Royal Dream 22 It's course is very eccentric, neither orbicular or parabolical, but proceeds in strait lines and zig-zags, with a great variety of turnings and windings.
1851 D. Wilson Archæol. & Prehistoric Ann. Scotl. ii. iv. 268 Shields are also found; some oblong and oval, and some orbicular.
1872 H. A. Nicholson Man. Palæontol. 212 In Discina, the shell is generally circular or orbicular in shape.
1986 G. Culverwell tr. P. Arduini & G. Teruzzi Macdonald Encycl. Fossils Entry 48 The shell of Clycymeris is orbicular in shape.
b. Botany. Esp. of a leaf: approximately circular in outline.
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the world > plants > part of plant > part defined by form or function > [adjective] > oval or circular
orbicular1753
suborbicular1753
lance-egged1787
rhomboid?1788
lance-ovala1794
spear-egg-shaped1796
lance-ovate1800
rhombic1805
1753 Chambers's Cycl. Suppl. at Leaf Orbicular Leaf, one of a round figure, the breadth of which is equal to its length.
1785 T. Martyn tr. J.-J. Rousseau Lett. Elements Bot. xxiv. 337 The leaves are almost orbicular.
1845 J. Lindley School Bot. (1858) iv. 35 Seeds in one row in each cell, oval or orbicular.
1864 D. Oliver Lessons Elem. Bot. ii. 203 The..orbicular floating leaves of Common Limnanth (Limnanthemum nymphœoides).
1911 A. L. Smith Monogr. Brit. Lichens II. 362 Placodioid, like the genus Placodium, with the thallus orbicular, adpressed, lobed at the circumference.
1968 Flora Europaea II. 16/1 R[ubus] discolor..petals ovate to orbicular, pale pink or white.
1998 Guardian 4 July (Weekend Suppl.) 58/1 In Japan, you will see it straight, with plain green, orbicular leaves and yellow daisies in October.
c. Entomology. Designating the round spot typically found on the forewing of a noctuid moth.
ΚΠ
1869 E. Newman Illustr. Nat. Hist. Brit. Moths 237/1 The one nearest the body is generally round..and is called the orbicular discoidal spot.
1890 Cent. Dict. at Orbicular Also called orbicular spot and discal spot.
1939 W. J. Stokoe Butterflies & Moths Wayside & Woodland 144 The reniform, orbicular, and claviform marks are, however, generally much in evidence.
1961 H. M. Edelstein & D. S. Fletcher South's Moths Brit. Isles (new ed.) I. 132 The claviform stigma is absent, and the orbicular stigma usually so.
1983 J. Heath & A. M. Emmet Moths & Butterflies Great Brit. IX. 121/2 Forewing with a characteristic pattern composed of five transverse lines..and three discal spots, the reniform, orbicular and claviform stigmata.
2.
a. Spherical, globular; having a rounded or convex form or surface.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > shape > curvature > curved three-dimensional shape or body > [adjective] > spherical or globular
roundc1300
orbicular?1440
spherical1523
spheral1571
globous1591
globy1595
bulbed1597
orbed1598
sphery1600
spheric1610
globical1612
rotundious1614
globular1626
globed1633
global1637
globose1667
spheriform1678
globosous1681
globar1699
bulbous1783
ball-shaped1802
globate1806
perispheric1828
bulb-like1836
balloon-shaped1839
bulbiform1849
globuloid1889
tr. Palladius De re Rustica (Duke Humfrey) (1896) iii. 891 The meles round, ycald orbiculer.
1578 J. Banister Hist. Man i. f. 33 This same head [of thigh bone]..is almost wholly affourmed by an orbicular Appendaunce.
1622 Middleton Triumphs Honor & Vertue sig. C2v Here fixe my Foote on this Orbicular Ball.
1712 R. Blackmore Creation i. 24 Give to the Earth a Form Orbicular, Let it be pois'd, and hung in Ambient Air.
1782 Monro's Anat. Human Bones (new ed.) 203 A round head of one bone plays in the orbicular socket of another.
1853 J. Ruskin Stones of Venice II. viii. 357 Having roses set, instead of orbicular ornaments, between the spandrils.
1938 V. Woolf Diary 1 Nov. (1984) V. 163 Max like a Cheshire cat. Orbicular. Jowld. Blue eyed.
1989 J. Kinsella Poems (1998) 135 Cloche-eyed, orbicular,..the dog star darkly brightens.
b. Geology. Of an igneous rock: containing spheroidal inclusions (orbicules). Cf. orbicule n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > structure of the earth > constituent materials > rock > texture or colour > [adjective] > texture > round inclusions
orbicular1824
chondritic1866
phacoidal1901
oncolitic1933
1824 H. T. De la Beche tr. A. Brongniart Table Classif. Mixed Rocks in Sel. Geol. Mem. in Ann. des Mines p. ix Diabase... Orbicular D. Spheres with concentric zones of hornblende and compact felspar in a diabase of moderately sized grains. (Orbicular granite of Corsica.)
1857 J. B. Jukes Student's Man. Geol. iii. 73 (heading) Globular diorite, orbicular greenstone, Corsican granite.
1954 H. Williams et al. Petrogr. vii. 132 A few granites have an orbicular texture.
1985 R. Thorpe & E. Brown Field Descr. Igneous Rocks viii. 114 Orbicular granite..contains large ovoid bodies (orbicules) usually up to several centimetres in diameter.
3. Anatomy and Zoology. Annular; spec. designating any of various muscles surrounding, and having the function of constricting, an opening of the body such as the mouth or eye. Cf. orbicularis n.
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the world > life > biology > physical aspects or shapes > shape > [adjective] > ring
coron1555
orbicular1615
coronal1656
coronary1686
annular1691
zonular1835
the world > life > the body > structural parts > muscle > types of muscles > [adjective]
orbicular1615
biceps1634
bicipital1646
trigastric1676
adducent1694
biventral1706
attollent1713
penniform1713
antagonistic1725
monogastric1749
adductory1752
sublime1800
pennated1836–9
intrinsic1839
pennate1877
sphincteric1883
sphinctrate1887
sphincterial1889
agonistic1905
sphinctered1963
1615 H. Crooke Μικροκοσμογραϕια 165 The naturall motion, which the Ancients called περισταλτικὸν is accomplished by transuerse and orbicular Fibres contracting the guts.
1668 N. Culpeper & A. Cole tr. T. Bartholin Anat. (new ed.) iii. viii. 144 The Orbicular Muscle only moves the upper Eye-lid, and doth but embrace the lower, and knit it as a coupler.
1691 J. Ray Wisdom of God 206 The Arteries consist of a quadruple Coat, the Third of which is made up of annular or orbicular carneous Fibres.
1733 G. Douglas tr. J. B. Winslow Anat. Expos. Struct. Human Body II. x. 91 All these different Portions of the Orbicular Muscle adhere to the Skin.
1761 L. Sterne Life Tristram Shandy III. vi. 21 Directing..the orbicular muscles around his lips to do their duty—he whistled Lillabullero.
1840 G. V. Ellis Demonstr. Anat. 64 The orbicular muscle of the eyelids.
1961 J. Stubblefield Davies's Introd. Palaeontol. (ed. 3) ii. 39 There is here an important muscle (orbicular muscle) by which the lips of the mantle can be pressed together even when the valves are not tightly closed.
2000 New Scientist 27 May 23/1 A temptation to twitch the old zygomatic and orbicular muscles—cracking a smile to you and me.
4. figurative. Rounded; complete. rare.
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the world > relative properties > wholeness > completeness > [adjective]
fulleOE
plenara1325
perfectc1350
completec1380
heala1399
plenary?a1425
absolute1531
explete1534
well-accomplished1568
quit1583
orbeda1657
orbicular1673
saturate1682
rounded1746
broad-blown1855
plene1867
choate1878
ten tenth1948
1673 A. Marvell Rehearsal Transpros'd II. 395 The ends of your publick government will at last excuse if not hallow, the most orbicular untruth.
1841 T. De Quincey Plato's Republic in Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. July 41/2 An orbicular system, or total body of philosophy.
1854 T. De Quincey On Murder (rev. ed.) in Select. Grave & Gay IV. 78 The household ruin was thus full and orbicular.
1902 J. B. Stephens Poet. Wks. 232 Do they really mean to play on me with calm deliberation A pyramidal, orbicular absurdity like that!
B. n.† 1. Perhaps: an orbicular course; orbit (or perhaps: an orb or sphere). Obsolete. rare.
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the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement in circle or curve > [noun] > movement in circle > circular course
ringeOE
virona1380
environa1382
roundness?c1425
circuit1483
orbicular1523
round1539
bouta1542
rundle1574
ring road1828
orbit1831
ring-around1894
1523 J. Skelton Goodly Garlande of Laurell 4 When Mars retrogradant reuersyd his bak, Lorde of the yere in his orbicular.
2. Anatomy. An orbicular muscle (see sense A. 3 and orbicularis n.); esp. the orbicularis oculi. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > structural parts > muscle > types of muscles > [noun]
sphincter1578
raiser1588
in-muscle?1609
oblique1612
abducens1615
abductor1615
adductor1615
antagonist1615
bender1615
depressor1615
extender1615
flexor1615
levator1615
quadratus1615
rectus1615
retractor1615
sphincter-muscle1615
accelerator1638
bicepsa1641
elevator1646
adducent1649
lifter1649
rotator1657
flector1666
contractor1682
dilater1683
orbicularis palpebrarum1694
transverse muscle1696
tensor muscle1704
biventer1706
extensor1713
attollent1728
constrictor1741
dilator1741
risibles1785
orbicularis oculi1797
obliquus1799
erector1828
extensor-muscle1830
compressor1836
trans-muscle1836
antagonizer1844
motor1846
evertor1848
inflector1851
protractor1853
prime mover1860
orbicular1872
transversalis1872
invertor1875
skeletal muscle1877
dilatator1878
occlusor muscle1878
sphincter1879
pilomotor1892
agonist1896
1872 C. Darwin Expression Emotions Man & Animals vi. 149 For the sake of brevity these muscles will generally be spoken of as the orbiculars.
1887 Science 2 Dec. 269/2 The frontal muscle furrowing the forehead is the muscle of attention; the orbiculars contracting the orbital space and lowering the eyelid of reflection.
1900 Amer. Anthropologist 2 606 In weeping tears flow and various muscles about the eyelids, especially the orbiculars, are involved.
3. Entomology. An orbicular stigma on the wing of a noctuid moth. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > parts of insects > [noun] > wings(s) > stigma
stigma1826
pterostigma1861
orbicular1890
1890 Cent. Dict. Orbicular, II. n., in entom., a circular mark or spot almost always found on the anterior wings of the noctuid moths.
1961 H. M. Edelstein & D. S. Fletcher South's Moths Brit. Isles (new ed.) I. 134 Not infrequently the reniform is connected with the orbicular by a black streak from the former.
Compounds
C1. Botany. Prefixed to other adjectives of form, to express a combination of the two or an intermediate form.† orbicular-cuneate adj. Obsolete rare† orbicular-crenate adj. Obsolete rare† orbicular-spathulate adj. Obsolete rare
orbicular-cordate adj.
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1847 W. E. Steele Handbk. Field Bot. 116 Villarsia Nymphæoides. Leaves orbicular-cordate.
1893 Bot. Gaz. 18 198 Leaves ovate to orbicular-cordate.
1990 Brittonia 42 242 Leaves orbicular to orbicular-cordate.
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1870 J. D. Hooker Student's Flora Brit. Islands Alnus glutinosa, L.; leaves..orbicular-cuneate.
1898 Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 25 467 Appendages white, orbicular-cuneate.
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1870 J. D. Hooker Student's Flora Brit. Islands 346 Betula nana..leaves short-petioled orbicular-crenate.
orbicular-oblong adj.
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1870 J. D. Hooker Student's Flora Brit. Islands 37 Lepidium ruderale..pod orbicular-oblong notched.
1901 Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 28 150 Lobes orbicular-oblong.
1975 Brittonia 27 154 The terminal appendages membranaceous, orbicular-oblong.
orbicular-ovate adj.
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1903 N.E.D. at Orbicular Orbicular-ovate.
orbicular-reniform adj.
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1826 D. Douglas Jrnl. 13 Apr. (1914) 163 Leaves orbicular-reniform, partially lobed.
1900 Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 27 277 Leaflets suborbicular or orbicular-reniform.
1988 Ann. Missouri Bot. Garden 75 1503 Leaves orbicular-reniform or cordate.
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1843 C. C. Babington Man. Brit. Bot. 28 T[eesdalia] nudicaulis... L[eaves] numerous,..lyrate-pinnatifid, rarely orbicular-spathulate and entire.
C2.
orbicular bone n. [after post-classical Latin os orbiculare (1666 or earlier)] Anatomy now rare or disused the lenticular process of the incus, esp. in the fetus.
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the world > life > the body > structural parts > bone or bones > skull > parts of skull > [noun] > bones of ear > others
os orbiculare1698
orbicular bone1706
tympanic1851
opisthotic1865
prootic1866
tympanal1875
otolith1890
tegmen tympani1890
1706 Phillips's New World of Words (new ed.) Orbicular Bone (in Anat.), one of the little Bones of the inner part of the Ear, which is fasten'd by a slender Ligament to the sides of that called Stapes.
1800 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 90 9 It is united by its long process to the orbicular bone, which is the smallest in the body.
1892 New Sydenham Soc. Lexicon Orbicular bone, a very minute bone of the middle ear, like to a grain of sand..; it is a separate bone in childhood, but by some is looked upon as an epiphysis of the incus.
orbicular spot n. a round mark on an insect, leaf, etc.; spec. that on the forewing of a noctuid moth (cf. sense A. 1c).
ΚΠ
1698 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 20 396 These orbicular spots, to most People at first view seem to be their Eyes.
1890 Cent. Dict. at Orbicular Also called orbicular spot and discal spot.
1949 Amer. Midland Naturalist 41 727 The dark brown, orbicular spots..have a narrow black margin and a paler center. The pale brown pycnidia are gregarious on the spots.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2004; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.n.?1440