ringförmig

Ringförmig is a German adjective meaning ring-shaped or annular. It is formed from the word ring (circle) and the suffix -förmig, which indicates form or shape. The term is used across disciplines to describe objects or patterns that form a closed loop around a central area, often with a hollow interior or a distinct circular boundary.

In geometry and mathematics, ringförmig describes shapes like an annulus, a region between two concentric circles. Such forms are contrasted with solid disks that have no hole in the center. The concept also appears in descriptions of objects that resemble a ring in cross-section or outline.

In biology and medicine, ringförmig is used to characterize structures or patterns that encircle an opening or form a circular ring on a tissue surface. Examples include ringförmige Muskelstrukturen (sphincters) around ducts or openings, and ringförmige Hautveränderungen or Läsionen in dermatology, which describe annular or circular skin changes.

In astronomy, ringförmig commonly describes phenomena such as the ringförmige Sonnenfinsternis (annular solar eclipse), where the Moon covers the center of the Sun but leaves a bright ring along the edge. The term also appears in popular descriptions of ring galaxies, which show a ring-shaped distribution of stars around a galactic core.

See also: annulus, annular, torus, circular.