I. äˈblāt, əˈ-, usu -ād.+V transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Latin oblatus (suppletive past participle of offerre to carry to, offer) from ob- to, towards + latus carried (suppletive past participle of ferre to carry) — more at ob- , bear , tolerate
: offer ; especially : to make an oblation of
II. (ˈ)ä|blāt, (ˈ)ō|-, əˈblāt, usu -ād.+V adjective
Etymology: probably from (assumed) New Latin oblatus, literally, carried forward, stretched, from Latin, suppletive past participle of offerre
: flattened or depressed at the poles
an oblate leaf
oblate teapot
oblate spheroid
— opposed to prolate
• ob·late·ly adverb
III. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Medieval Latin oblatus, from Latin, suppletive past participle of offerre
1. Roman Catholicism : one offered or devoted to the monastic life or to some special religious service or work:
a. : a child dedicated in his or her early years by the parents to the monastic life
b. : one of a class of persons who have offered themselves and their property to a monastery in which they live
2. usually capitalized , Roman Catholicism : a member of one of the religious orders devoted to a particular work