orb

American  

[awrb] / ɔrb /

noun

1. a sphere or globe.

   a Christmas tree hung with brightly colored orbs.

2. the eyeball or eye.

   He looks with blind orbs on an indifferent world.

3. any of the heavenly bodies, as the sun or moon.

   He lay on the grass, warmed by that orb of day, the sun.

4. a globe bearing a cross; the mound or emblem of sovereignty, especially as part of the regalia of England.

5. Astrology. the number of degrees from exactness within which an aspect operates.

6. a circle or something circular.

7. Astronomy. (formerly) the orbit of a heavenly body.

8. the earth.

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verb (used with object)

1. to form into a circle or sphere.

2. Archaic. to encircle; enclose.

verb (used without object)

1. to move in an orbit.

2. to form into an orb or globe; round out.

orb British  

/ ɔːb /

noun

1. (in royal regalia) an ornamental sphere surmounted by a cross, representing the power of a sovereign

2. a sphere; globe

3. poetic another word for eye 1

4. obsolete

   1. a celestial body, esp the earth or sun

   2. the orbit of a celestial body

5. an archaic word for circle

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verb

1. to make or become circular or spherical

2. (tr) an archaic word for encircle

Usage

What does orb mean? An orb is an object shaped like a sphere or globe. We call most globe-shaped things balls or spheres. Orb is usually reserved for more poetic uses, or to convey a fantastical or sci-fi feel—a UFO might be described as an orb, for example. Example: The movie shows the aliens traveling in an orb of light.

Other Word Forms

• orbless
  adjective
• orblike
  adjective
• unorbed
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of orb

First recorded in 1520–30, orb is from the Latin word orbis circle, disk, orb

Explanation

An orb is a ball-shaped object. You might be inspired to write a poem about the full moon in which you describe it as "a glowing orb." The sun, moon, marbles, grapes — all of these have been described (particularly by poets) as orbs. Your round gold earrings, your dog's favorite tennis ball, and a grapefruit before you cut it in half can be called orbs too, because they're all spherical in shape. The Latin source, orbem, means "circle, disk, ring, or hoop," and is probably related to orbita, "wheel track or rut."

Example Sentences

In addition to doling out Worldcoin to new World ID holders, Tools for Humanity awards its cryptocurrency to independent Orb operators in some markets outside the U.S. each time they issue a new ID.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 26, 2026

Lollapalooza 1997, its swansong before the revival, skewed to ambitious electronic sounds from artists like Prodigy, the Orb and Orbital, a laudable but ultimately unsuccessful attempt to reinvigorate the once-golden festival.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 24, 2025

Several of them cite a 2018 study from Orb Media and the State University of New York in Fredonia that found microplastic contamination in 93 percent of bottles tested across 11 brands in nine countries.

From Salon • May 21, 2024

That includes the Orb, which represents the world under Christ, and the Sovereign’s Ring, symbolizing the marriage of a monarch to his people.

From Seattle Times • May 6, 2023

The transparent blue sphere generated by the Orb of Osuvox appeared around the castle, surrounding it both above- and belowground.

From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline

Related Words

• sphere