Spheroid (noun)

1. A solid figure, symmetrical about its axis, that has a curved surface and is generated by rotating an ellipse around one of its axes.
2. A sphere-like object.

Origin:

Late 17th century: from french sphéroïde, from greek sphaira "sphere" + -oid "having the form of".

Examples:

1. The spheroid of the Earth is an oblate spheroid, meaning it is slightly flattened at the poles.
2. A basketball is a common example of a spheroid in sports.
3. The shape of the planet Mars is said to be a nearly perfect spheroid.
4. Some spheroids have a natural tendency to roll in a straight line.
5. The spheroid was used to model the Earth's gravity field for the first time.