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sphere

 - 7 dictionary results

sphere

  [sfeer] noun, verb, sphered, spher⋅ing.
Use sphere in a Sentence
–noun
1. Geometry.
a. a solid geometric figure generated by the revolution of a semicircle about its diameter; a round body whose surface is at all points equidistant from the center. Equation: x 2 + y2 + z2 = r2.
b. the surface of such a figure; a spherical surface.
2. any rounded body approximately of this form; a globular mass, shell, etc.
3. Astronomy.
a. a planet or star; heavenly body.
b. celestial sphere.
c. any of the transparent, concentric, spherical shells, or layers, in which, according to ancient belief, the planets, stars, and other heavenly bodies were set.
4. the place or environment within which a person or thing exists; a field of activity or operation: to be out of one's professional sphere.
5. a particular social world, stratum of society, or walk of life: His social sphere is small.
6. a field of something specified: a sphere of knowledge.
–verb (used with object)
7. to enclose in or as if in a sphere.
8. to form into a sphere.
9. to place among the heavenly spheres.
Origin:
1250–1300; < LL sphēra, L sphaera globe < Gk sphaîra ball; r. ME spere < OF spere < LL spēra, var. of sphēra

Related forms:
sphereless, adjective
spherelike, adjective

Synonyms:
4. orbit, area, province, compass, realm, domain. 5. class, rank.

-sphere

 
a combining form of sphere (planisphere); having a special use in the names of the layers of gases and the like surrounding the earth and other celestial bodies (ionosphere).

sphero-

 
a combining form representing sphere in compound words: spherometer.
Also, sphaero-, -sphere; especially before a vowel, spher-.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To sphere
sphere   (sfĭr)   
n.  

  1. Mathematics A three-dimensional surface, all points of which are equidistant from a fixed point.

  2. A spherical object or figure.

  3. A celestial body, such as a planet or star.

  4. The sky, appearing as a hemisphere to an observer: the sphere of the heavens.

  5. Any of a series of concentric, transparent, revolving globes that together were once thought to contain the moon, sun, planets, and stars.

  6. The extent of a person's knowledge, interests, or social position.

  7. An area of power, control, or influence; domain. See Synonyms at field.

tr.v.   sphered, spher·ing, spheres

  1. To form into a sphere.

  2. To put in or within a sphere.

  3. To surround or encompass.


[Middle English spere, from Old French espere, from Latin sphaera, from Greek sphaira.]
sphe·ric'i·ty (sfî-rĭs'ĭ-tē) n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

sphere 
c.1533, restored spelling of M.E. spere (c.1300) "space, conceived as a hollow globe about the world," from O.Fr. espere (13c.), from L. sphæra "globe, ball, celestial sphere," from Gk. sphaira "globe, ball," of unknown origin. Sense of "ball, body of globular form" is from 1388. Medieval astronomical meaning "one of the 8 (later 10) concentric, transparent, hollow globes believed to revolve around the earth and carry the heavenly bodies" is from c.1374; the supposed harmonious sound they made rubbing against one another was the music of the spheres (c.1381). Meaning "range of something" is first recorded 1601 (e.g. sphere of influence, 1885, in ref. to British-German colonial rivalry in Africa). A spherical number (1646) is one whose powers always terminate in the same digit as the number itself (5,6, and 10 are the only ones).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

sphere (sfēr)
n.
A ball-shaped or a globular body.

spher'al (sfēr'əl) adj.

sphero- or spher-
pref.
Sphere; spherical: spherocyte.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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