hemisphere

American  

[hem-i-sfeer] / ˈhɛm ɪˌsfɪər /

noun

1. (often initial capital letter) half of the terrestrial globe or celestial sphere, especially one of the halves into which the earth is divided.

2. a map or projection representing one of these halves.

3. a half of a sphere.

4. Anatomy. either of the lateral halves of the cerebrum or cerebellum.

5. the area within which something occurs or dominates; sphere; realm.

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hemisphere British  

/ ˌhɛmɪˈsfɛrɪk, ˈhɛmɪˌsfɪə /

noun

1. one half of a sphere

2. 1. half of the terrestrial globe, divided into northern and southern hemispheres by the equator or into eastern and western hemispheres by some meridians, usually 0° and 180°

   2. a map or projection of one of the hemispheres

3. either of the two halves of the celestial sphere that lie north or south of the celestial equator

4. anatomy short for cerebral hemisphere

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hemisphere Scientific  

/ hĕm′ĭ-sfîr′ /

1. One half of a sphere, formed by a plane that passes through the center of the sphere.

2. Either the northern or southern half of the Earth as divided by the equator, or the eastern or western half as divided by a meridian, especially the prime meridian.

3. One half of the celestial sphere as divided by any of various great circles, especially the celestial equator and the ecliptic.

4. See more at celestial sphere

5. See cerebral hemisphere

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hemisphere Cultural  

1. Any half of the Earth's surface.

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Other Word Forms

• hemispheric adjective

Etymology

Origin of hemisphere

1325–75; < Latin hēmisphaerium < Greek hēmisphaírion; replacing Middle English emysperie < Old French emispere < Latin

Example Sentences

“The U.S. needs Colombia if we are going to be serious about fighting crime and insecurity in the hemisphere,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal

February's full Moon is known as the Snow Moon, after the heavy snowfall often associated with this time of year in the northern hemisphere, but is also sometimes called the Storm Moon or Hungry Moon.

From BBC

US forces rapidly went in and out of Caracas, which lies near the Caribbean coast and is in the same hemisphere as the United States.

From Barron's

It asserted America's right to dominate the Western hemisphere and keep European powers from trying to meddle in the newly independent states of Latin America.

From BBC

Greater financial stability and rapid development in emerging-market nations within our hemisphere could serve U.S. national interests as shared prosperity strengthens political alliances.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• fraction