globular

adjective

glob·​u·​lar ˈglä-byə-lər How to pronounce globular (audio)
 sense 1b is also  ˈglō-
1
a(1)
: having the shape of a globe or globule
(2)
: composed of compactly folded polypeptide chains arranged in a spherical form
globular proteins
b
: global
2
: having or consisting of globules

Example Sentences

the globular streetlights give the pedestrian mall a Gay Nineties look
Recent Examples on the Web There are postcards of health-care workers battling the spiky globular virus, of cityscapes emptied by the pandemic, of fanciful outfits designed to maintain social distancing (a hat six feet in diameter, for example). John Kelly, Washington Post, 9 May 2023 The brown widow spiders have relatively spindly legs and deep, globular abdomens. Tim Macwelch, Outdoor Life, 3 May 2023 The pretty little weed arrived innocuously enough with delicate, yellow globular flowers and feathery carrotlike leaves. Mare Czinar, The Arizona Republic, 31 Mar. 2023 Its small stature belies its most striking feature: LIFE (Large Integrated Flexible Environment) habitat, an inflatable structure that attaches to the back of the spaceplane and expands in orbit into globular living quarters measuring 27 feet in diameter, the equivalent of a three-story building. Jaclyn Trop, Robb Report, 29 Dec. 2022 Because spider venom contains mostly globular proteins (a type of spherical proteins including hemoglobin and insulin), the transfer of genetic material from spider to human could only occur if a viral parasite were carrying all of the spider's most incredible genes. Courtney Linder, Popular Mechanics, 26 Aug. 2020 But by age 1 or so, modern humans had grown globular brains, whereas Neandertal babies had not. Andrew Moseman, Discover Magazine, 9 Nov. 2010 However, unlike most globular clusters, its stars are relatively young. Julia Musto, Fox News, 28 Dec. 2022 Or, alternatively, groups of stars called globular clusters can spin into the galaxy’s center, where they’re ripped into the building blocks of new stars by the supermassive black hole. Chelsea Gohd, Discover Magazine, 13 Sep. 2018 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'globular.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

partly from Latin globus + English -ular; partly from Latin globulus + English -ar

First Known Use

1626, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Time Traveler
The first known use of globular was in 1626

Dictionary Entries Near globular

Cite this Entry

“Globular.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/globular. Accessed 8 Jun. 2023.

Medical Definition

globular

adjective
glob·​u·​lar ˈgläb-yə-lər How to pronounce globular (audio)
1
a
: having the shape of a globe or globule
b
: composed of compactly folded polypeptide chains arranged in a spherical form
globular proteins
2
: having or consisting of globules
globularly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on globular

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!