A Topical Dictionary: Search for sphere

Dictionary Results For "sphere" [?]/[OPML]

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Wiktionary Articles [RSS] - [GNU, www.Wiktionary.org]

English

Etymology

From , from late , earlier {{term|sphaera||ball, globe, celestial sphere}}, from {{term|σφαῖρα||ball, globe|sc=polytonic}}, of unknown origin.

Pronunciation

IPA: /sfɪə/,
, IPA: /sfɪr/,
An audio transcript can be found at en-us-sphere.ogg

Rhymes: Rhymes:English:-ɪə(r)|-ɪə(r)

Noun

A regular three-dimensional object in which every cross-section is a circle; the figure described by the revolution of a semi-circle about its diameter.
The set of all points in three-dimensional Euclidean space (or -dimensional space, in topology) that are a fixed distance from a fixed point.
A spherical object; a globe or ball.
The apparent outer limit of space, the edge of the heavens, imagined as a hollow globe within which celestial bodies appear to be embedded.
Any of the concentric hollow transparent globes formerly believed to rotate around the Earth, and which carried the heavenly bodies; there were originally believed to be eight, and later nine and ten; friction between them was thought to cause a harmonious sound (the music of the spheres).
* 1603, John Florio, translating Michel de Montaigne, Essays, vol. 1 p. 153:
*: It is more simplicitie to teach our children [...] [t]he knowledge of the starres, and the motion of the eighth spheare, before their owne.
An area of activity for a planet; or by extension, an area of influence for a god, hero etc.
The region in which something or someone is active; one's province, domain.

Synonyms

(object): ball, globe, orb
(region of activity): area, domain, field, orbit, sector
(in geometry): 3-sphere (geometry), 2-sphere (topology)
(astronomy: apparent surface of the heavens): See celestial sphere
(astronomy: anything visible on the apparent surface of the heavens): See celestial body

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

Arabic: {{Arab|جِسْمٌ كُرَوِيّ|جسم كروي}} (jísmu kuráwiy)
Chinese: 球 (qiú), 圆球 (yuán qiú)
Croatian: {{t-|hr|kugla|f}}
Czech: {{t+|cs|koule|f}}
Danish: kugle
Dutch: {{t+|nl|bol|m}}
Estonian:
Finnish:
French: {{t+|fr|sphère|f}}, {{t+|fr|boule|f}}
Georgian: სფერო (sp‘ero)
German: {{t+|de|Kugel|f}}
Greek: {{t+|el|σφαίρα|f|tr=sfaíra|sc=Grek}}
Hebrew: ,
Hungarian:
Icelandic:
Italian: {{t+|it|sfera|f}}

Japanese: 球 (kyū), 球体 (kyūtai)
Korean: 구체 (guche)
Latvian: sfēra , lode
Lithuanian: rutulys
Polish: {{t+|pl|sfera|f}}
Portuguese: {{t+|pt|esfera|f}}
Romanian: sferă
Russian: шар (šar) , сфера (sféra)
Slovak: gul'a
Slovene: {{t+|sl|krogla|f}}
Spanish: {{t+|es|esfera|f}}, {{t+|es|bola|f}}
Swedish: {{t+|sv|klot|c}}, {{t-|sv|glob|c}}, {{t+|sv|sfär|c}}
Telugu: గోళము (gOLamu)
Thai: (song glom)
Turkish:

Croatian: {{t-|hr|sfera|f}}
Czech: {{t-|cs|kulová plocha|f}}
Dutch: {{t+|nl|bol|m}}
French: {{t+|fr|sphère|f}}
Georgian: სფერო (sp‘ero)
German: {{t+|de|Kugel|f}}
Hebrew: ,
Italian: {{t+|it|sfera|f}}

Japanese: 球 (kyū), 球体 (kyūtai)
Polish: {{t+|pl|sfera|f}}
Portuguese: {{t+|pt|esfera|f}}
Russian: шар (šar) , сфера (sf'éra)
Slovene: {{t+|sl|krogla|f}}
Spanish: {{t+|es|esfera|f}}
Swedish: {{t+|sv|sfär|c}}
Telugu: గోళము (gOLamu)

Croatian: {{t-|hr|sfera|f}}
Dutch: {{t+|nl|omgeving|f}}, {{t+|nl|bereik|n}}, {{t+|nl|sfeer|m}}
French: {{t+|fr|sphère|f}}
German: {{t+|de|Sphäre|f}}, {{t+|de|Bereich|m}}
Hebrew:
Hungarian: , ,
Japanese: 分野 (bun’ya), 範囲 (han'i), 領域 (ryōiki)
Latvian: sfēra

Polish: {{t+|pl|obszar|m}}, {{t+|pl|sfera|f}}
Portuguese: {{t+|pt|esfera|f}}
Russian: сфера (sféra)
Slovene: {{t-|sl|sfera|f}}
Spanish: {{t+|es|esfera|f}}
Swedish: {{t+|sv|fack|n}}, {{t+|sv|fält|n}}, {{t-|sv|gebit|n}}, {{t+|sv|klass|c}}, {{t-|sv|krets|c}}, {{t+|sv|område|n}}, {{t+|sv|sfär|c}}
Turkish:

: See celestial sphere

: (1): 球體, 球体 (qiútǐ)
: sféir
: (1): sphaera

GNU Project's publication of CIDE, the Collaborative International Dictionary of English Sphere \Sphere\, n. [OE. spere, OF. espere, F. sph[`e]re, L.
sphaera,. Gr. ??? a sphere, a ball.]
1. (Geom.) A body or space contained under a single surface,
which in every part is equally distant from a point within
called its center.
[1913 Webster]

2. Hence, any globe or globular body, especially a celestial
one, as the sun, a planet, or the earth.
[1913 Webster]

Of celestial bodies, first the sun,
A mighty sphere, he framed. --Milton.
[1913 Webster]

3. (Astron.)
(a) The apparent surface of the heavens, which is assumed
to be spherical and everywhere equally distant, in
which the heavenly bodies appear to have their places,
and on which the various astronomical circles, as of
right ascension and declination, the equator,
ecliptic, etc., are conceived to be drawn; an ideal
geometrical sphere, with the astronomical and
geographical circles in their proper positions on it.
(b) In ancient astronomy, one of the concentric and
eccentric revolving spherical transparent shells in
which the stars, sun, planets, and moon were supposed
to be set, and by which they were carried, in such a
manner as to produce their apparent motions.
[1913 Webster]

4. (Logic) The extension of a general conception, or the
totality of the individuals or species to which it may be
applied.
[1913 Webster]

5. Circuit or range of action, knowledge, or influence;
compass; province; employment; place of existence.
[1913 Webster]

To be called into a huge sphere, and not to be seen
to move in 't. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]

Taking her out of the ordinary relations with
humanity, and inclosing her in a sphere by herself.
--Hawthorne.
[1913 Webster]

Each in his hidden sphere of joy or woe
Our hermit spirits dwell. --Keble.
[1913 Webster]

6. Rank; order of society; social positions.
[1913 Webster]

7. An orbit, as of a star; a socket. [R.] --Shak.
[1913 Webster]

Armillary sphere, Crystalline sphere, Oblique sphere,.
See under Armillary, Crystalline,.

Doctrine of the sphere, applications of the principles of
spherical trigonometry to the properties and relations of
the circles of the sphere, and the problems connected with
them, in astronomy and geography, as to the latitudes and
longitudes, distance and bearing, of places on the earth,
and the right ascension and declination, altitude and
azimuth, rising and setting, etc., of the heavenly bodies;
spherical geometry.

Music of the spheres. See under Music.
[1913 Webster]

Syn: Globe; orb; circle. See Globe.
[1913 Webster]

GNU Project's publication of CIDE, the Collaborative International Dictionary of English Sphere \Sphere\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sphered; p. pr. & vb. n.
Sphering.]
1. To place in a sphere, or among the spheres; to insphere.
[1913 Webster]

The glorious planet Sol
In noble eminence enthroned and sphered
Amidst the other. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]

2. To form into roundness; to make spherical, or spheral; to
perfect. --Tennyson.
[1913 Webster] Spherical

WordNet sphere
n 1: a particular environment or walk of life; "his social sphere
is limited"; "it was a closed area of employment"; "he's
out of my orbit" [syn: domain, area, orbit, field,
arena]
2: any spherically shaped artifact
3: the geographical area in which one nation is very
influential [syn: sphere of influence]
4: a particular aspect of life or activity; "he was helpless in
an important sector of his life" [syn: sector]
5: a solid figure bounded by a spherical surface (including the
space it encloses)
6: a three-dimensional closed surface such that every point on
the surface is equidistant from the center
7: the apparent surface of the imaginary sphere on which
celestial bodies appear to be projected [syn: {celestial
sphere}, empyrean, firmament, heavens, {vault of
heaven}, welkin]

Moby Dictionary
Aldebaran , Canicula , Dog Star , Hesper , Hesperus , Lucifer ,
North Star , Phosphor , Phosphorus , Polaris , Sirius , Venus , Vesper ,
academic discipline , academic specialty , acreage , agora , ambit ,
amphitheater , applied science , area , arena , art , athletic field ,
auditorium , background , bag , bailiwick , ball , balloon , bear garden ,
beat , bladder , blob , boll , bolus , border , borderland , bowl ,
boxing ring , breadth , bubble , bulb , bulbil , bulblet , bull ring ,
campus , canvas , caste , celestial body , champaign , circle , circuit ,
circus , class , cockpit , coliseum , colosseum , comet , concern ,
condition , continuum , course , daystar , demesne , department ,
department of knowledge , dimension , discipline , domain , dominion ,
drop , droplet , echelon , ellipsoid , emptiness , empty space ,
ensphere , evening star , expanse , expansion , extension , extent ,
field , field of inquiry , field of study , fixed stars , floor ,
footing , forte , forum , galactic space , geoid , globe , globelet ,
globoid , globule , glomerulus , gob , gobbet , ground , gym , gymnasium ,
hall , heavenly body , hemisphere , hierarchy , hippodrome ,
infinite space , interstellar space , judicial circuit , jurisdiction ,
knob , knot , level , lists , living sapphires , locale , lodestar ,
march , marketplace , mat , measure , milieu , morning star ,
natural science , nothingness , oblate spheroid , ology , open forum ,
orb , orbit , orblet , order , outer space , palaestra , pale ,
parade ground , pellet , pit , place , platform , polar star , polestar ,
position , power structure , precedence , precinct , prize ring ,
prolate spheroid , proportion , province , public square ,
pure science , purlieu , range , rank , rate , rating , realm , ring ,
rondure , round , scene , scene of action , scenery , science , setting ,
site , social science , society , space , spatial extension , specialty ,
spheroid , spherule , spread , squared circle , stadium , stage ,
stage set , stage setting , standing , starry host , stars , station ,
status , stratum , study , subdiscipline , subject ,
superficial extension , surface , technicology , technics , technology ,
terrain , territory , theater , thing , tilting ground , tiltyard ,
tract , void , volume , walk , walk of life , wrestling ring