oval

An oval is a closed, curved shape whose outline resembles an egg or an ellipse. In everyday use, oval describes any elongated, rounded form with two relatively similar axes and smooth, continuous boundary. The term derives from Latin ovum, egg.

In mathematics, an ellipse is a precise example of an oval: the set of points for which the sum of distances to two fixed points (foci) is constant. A circle is a special case of an ellipse, hence also an oval. More generally, many texts use oval to refer to any convex, simple closed curve that is egg-like in appearance, though there is no single universal formal definition.

Common variations include the egg shape, or ovoid, which is elongated with a narrower end. Ovals occur in nature (eggs of birds), design (containers, buttons, badges), and sport facilities (athletics tracks).