oblate

Oblate is a term used in geometry, astronomy, and religious contexts to describe a person or shape that is flattened or made to lie flatter in a particular way.

In geometry, an oblate form refers to a surface of revolution produced by rotating an ellipse about its minor axis. The result is an oblate spheroid, in which the equatorial radius is larger than the polar radius. This shape is the opposite of a prolate spheroid, which is elongated along the axis of rotation. Oblateness is often quantified by the flattening factor, f = (a − b)/a, where a is the equatorial radius and b the polar radius.

Earth and many planets are well modeled as oblate spheroids due to rotation. Earth’s equatorial radius is about 6,378 km, while the polar radius is about 6,357 km, giving a flattening of roughly 1/298. Gas giants like Jupiter and Saturn are more oblate because of their rapid rotation.

In religious contexts, an oblate is a lay member of a monastic community who lives according to its rules but is not a professed monk or nun. Oblates participate in the spiritual life of the community and may support its work in various ways. The term is used across several Christian orders.

Overall, the concept of oblate covers both a geometric description of flattening and a specific social role within religious life, with the common thread being a deviation from a perfectly rounded or fully autonomous form.