sphere

[ sfeer ]

/ sfɪər /

See synonyms for: sphere / spheres on Thesaurus.com

noun

Geometry.

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: x2 + y2 + z2 = r2.
the surface of such a figure; a spherical surface.

any rounded body approximately of this form; a globular mass, shell, etc.

Astronomy.

a planet or star; heavenly body.
celestial sphere.
any of the transparent, concentric, spherical shells, or layers, in which, according to ancient belief, the planets, stars, and other heavenly bodies were set.

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.

a particular social world, stratum of society, or walk of life: His social sphere is small.

a field of something specified: a sphere of knowledge.

verb (used with object), sphered, spher·ing.

to enclose in or as if in a sphere.

to form into a sphere.

to place among the heavenly spheres.

SYNONYMS FOR sphere

4 orbit, area, province, compass, realm, domain.

5 class, rank.

See synonyms for sphere on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of sphere

1250–1300; <Late Latin sphēra,Latin sphaera globe <Greek sphaîra ball; replacing Middle English spere<Old French spere<Late Latin spēra, variant of sphēra

OTHER WORDS FROM sphere

sphereless, adjectivespherelike, adjectivesubsphere, nounun·spher·ing, adjective

Definition for sphere (2 of 2)

-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).

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

British Dictionary definitions for sphere (1 of 2)

sphere

/ (sfɪə) /

noun

maths

a three-dimensional closed surface such that every point on the surface is equidistant from a given point, the centre
the solid figure bounded by this surface or the space enclosed by it. Equation: (x–a)² + (y–b)² + (z–c)² = r ², where r is the radius and (a, b, c) are the coordinates of the centre; surface area: 4π r ²; volume: 4π r ³/3

any object having approximately this shape; globe

the night sky considered as a vaulted roof; firmament

any heavenly object such as a planet, natural satellite, or star

(in the Ptolemaic or Copernican systems of astronomy) one of a series of revolving hollow globes, arranged concentrically, on whose transparent surfaces the sun (or in the Copernican system the earth), the moon, the planets, and fixed stars were thought to be set, revolving around the earth (or in the Copernican system the sun)

particular field of activity; environmentthat's out of my sphere

a social class or stratum of society

verb (tr) mainly poetic

to surround or encircle

to place aloft or in the heavens

Word Origin for sphere

C14: from Late Latin sphēra, from Latin sphaera globe, from Greek sphaira

British Dictionary definitions for sphere (2 of 2)

-sphere

n combining form

having the shape or form of a spherebathysphere

indicating a spherelike enveloping massatmosphere

Derived forms of -sphere

-spheric, adj combining form

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for sphere

sphere

[ sfîr ]

n.

A ball-shaped or a globular body.

Other words from sphere

spher′al (sfîr′əl) adj.

Scientific definitions for sphere

sphere

[ sfîr ]

A three-dimensional geometric surface having all of its points the same distance from a given point.

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sphere

noun

verb (used with object), sphered, spher·ing.

SYNONYMS FOR sphere

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Origin of sphere

OTHER WORDS FROM sphere

Definition for sphere (2 of 2)

British Dictionary definitions for sphere (1 of 2)

noun

verb (tr) mainly poetic

Word Origin for sphere

British Dictionary definitions for sphere (2 of 2)

n combining form

Derived forms of -sphere

Medical definitions for sphere

n.

Other words from sphere

Scientific definitions for sphere

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

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sphere

noun

verb (used with object), sphered, spher·ing.

SYNONYMS FOR sphere

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Origin of sphere

OTHER WORDS FROM sphere

Definition for sphere (2 of 2)

Words related to sphere

British Dictionary definitions for sphere (1 of 2)

noun

verb (tr) mainly poetic

Word Origin for sphere

British Dictionary definitions for sphere (2 of 2)

n combining form

Derived forms of -sphere

Medical definitions for sphere

n.

Other words from sphere

Scientific definitions for sphere