noun
spheroid; spherule
Technical term used in geometry, astronomy, biology, and materials science for a roughly spherical body or particle.
この鉱物は微細な球状体の集合として見られる。
This mineral is seen as an aggregate of tiny spherules.
天文学では、星や惑
In astronomy, stars and planets are sometimes approximated as spheroids.
楕円体 is an ellipsoid, a more general shape; 球状体 is specifically a spheroid (a sphere-like shape, often slightly flattened or elongated).
Compound of 球状 (spherical shape) + 体 (body). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term follows standard Sino-Japanese word formation patterns for scientific vocabulary.