Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
Sector \Sec"tor\, n. [L., properly, a cutter, fr. secare,
sectum, to cut: cf. F. secteur. See {Section}.]
1. (Geom.) A part of a circle comprehended between two radii
and the included arc.
2. A mathematical instrument, consisting of two rulers
connected at one end by a joint, each arm marked with
several scales, as of equal parts, chords, sines,
tangents, etc., one scale of each kind on each arm, and
all on lines radiating from the common center of motion.
The sector is used for plotting, etc., to any scale.
3. An astronomical instrument, the limb of which embraces a
small portion only of a circle, used for measuring
differences of declination too great for the compass of a
micrometer. When it is used for measuring zenith distances
of stars, it is called a zenith sector.
{Dip sector}, an instrument used for measuring the dip of the
horizon.
{Sector of a sphere}, or {Spherical sector}, the solid
generated by the revolution of the sector of a circle
about one of its radii, or, more rarely, about any
straight line drawn in the plane of the sector through its
vertex.
Spherical \Spher"ic*al\, Spheric \Spher"ic\, a. [L. sphaericus,
Gr. ???: cf. F. sph['e]rique.]
1. Having the form of a sphere; like a sphere; globular;
orbicular; as, a spherical body.
2. Of or pertaining to a sphere.
3. Of or pertaining to the heavenly orbs, or to the sphere or
spheres in which, according to ancient astronomy and
astrology, they were set.
Knaves, thieves, and treachers by spherical
predominance. --Shak.
Though the stars were suns, and overburned Their
spheric limitations. --Mrs.
Browning.
{Spherical angle}, {Spherical co["o]rdinate}, {Spherical
excess}, etc. See under {Angle}, {Coordinate}, etc.
{Spherical geometry}, that branch of geometry which treats of
spherical magnitudes; the doctrine of the sphere,
especially of the circles described on its surface.
{Spherical harmonic analysis}. See under {Harmonic}, a.
{Spherical lune},portion of the surface of a sphere included
between two great semicircles having a common diameter.
{Spherical opening}, the magnitude of a solid angle. It is
measured by the portion within the solid angle of the
surface of any sphere whose center is the angular point.
{Spherical polygon},portion of the surface of a sphere
bounded by the arcs of three or more great circles.
{Spherical projection}, the projection of the circles of the
sphere upon a plane. See {Projection}.
{Spherical sector}. See under {Sector}.
{Spherical segment}, the segment of a sphere. See under
{Segment}.
{Spherical triangle},re on the surface of a sphere, bounded
by the arcs of three great circles which intersect each
other.
{Spherical trigonometry}. See {Trigonometry}. --
{Spher"ic*al*ly}, adv. -- {Spher"ic*al*ness}, n.