Oval

An oval is a closed, rounded shape that is longer in one direction than in the other. The word is commonly used in everyday language for shapes that resemble an egg or a stretched circle. Unlike a polygon, an oval has no straight sides or corners. In elementary geometry, the word “oval” does not describe one single mathematical figure with a universally fixed definition.

It can refer to several smooth, elongated shapes. One important example is the ellipse, a precise geometric curve that is often used to represent an oval. An ellipse has two main axes: the major axis is its longest diameter, while the minor axis is the shortest. When the two axes have the same length, the ellipse becomes a circle.

This makes a circle a special case of an ellipse, although in everyday speech people usually distinguish circles from ovals. Ellipses have useful geometric properties. For example, an ellipse has two focal points, called foci. For every point on the ellipse, the sum of its distances to the two foci is constant. This property helps explain why ellipses appear in mathematics, astronomy, engineering, and design.

The orbit of a planet around the Sun is approximately elliptical, although real planetary orbits are not perfect geometric ellipses in every detail. Ovals are also common in everyday objects and visual designs, such as mirrors, tables, frames, road markings, and decorative patterns. Their smooth, elongated form makes them easy to recognize and useful for introducing basic ideas about curves and geometry.