sphaere

Noun

sphere (plural spheres)

1. A surface in three dimensions consisting of all points equidistant from a center. .

   Synonyms:

   2-sphere

2. An object which appears to be bounded by a sphere; a round object, a ball.
   • Of celestial bodies, first the sun, / A mighty sphere, he framed.1667, John Milton, “Book VII”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished...

   Synonyms:

   orb

3. (archaic) The celestial sphere: the edge of the heavens, imagined as a hollow globe within which celestial bodies appear to be embedded.
   • Though cold and darkness longer hang somewhere, / Yet Phoebus equally lights all the Sphere.1635, John Donne, His parting form her
4. (historical) 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).
   • ſooner ſhall the Sun fall from his Spheare,
     Than Tamburlaine be ſlaine or ouercome.c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC...
5. An area of activity for a planet; or by extension, an area of influence for a god, hero etc.
6. (figuratively) The region in which something or someone is active; one's province, domain.
   • sphere of influence

   Synonyms:

   area, field, orbit, sector

See all 12 meanings of sphere