The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Spheroid \Sphe"roid\, n. [L. spheroides ball-like, spherical,
Gr. ???; ???? sphere + e'i^dos form: cf. F. sph['e]ro["i]de.]
A body or figure approaching to a sphere, but not perfectly
spherical; esp., a solid generated by the revolution of an
ellipse about one of its axes.
[1913 Webster]
Oblate spheroid, Prolate spheroid. See Oblate,
Prolate, and Ellipsoid.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Prolate \Pro"late\, a. [L. prolatus, used as p. p. of proferre
to bring forth, to extend; pro + latus, p. p. See Pro-, and
Tolerate. ]
Stretched out; extended; especially, elongated in the
direction of a line joining the poles; as, a prolate
spheroid; -- opposed to oblate.
[1913 Webster]
Prolate cycloid. See the Note under Cycloid.
Prolate ellipsoid or Prolate spheroid (Geom.), a figure
generated by the revolution of an ellipse about its major
axis. Contrasted with oblate spheroid. See Ellipsoid of
revolution, under Ellipsoid.
[1913 Webster]