sphere

¹

[sfeer]

noun

1. Geometry.

   1. 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: x 2 + y 2 + z 2 = r 2 .

   2. the surface of such a figure; a spherical surface.

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

3. Astronomy.

   1. a planet or star; heavenly body.

   2. celestial sphere.

   3. any of the transparent, concentric, spherical shells, or layers, in which, according to ancient belief, the planets, stars, and other heavenly bodies were set.

4. 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.

   Synonyms: domain, realm, compass, province, area, orbit

5. a particular social world, stratum of society, or walk of life.

   His social sphere is small.

   Synonyms: rank, class

6. a field of something specified.

   a sphere of knowledge.

verb (used with object)

sphered, sphering 

1. to enclose in or as if in a sphere.

2. to form into a sphere.

3. to place among the heavenly spheres.

-sphere

²

1. 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 ).

-sphere

¹

combining form

1. having the shape or form of a sphere

   bathysphere

2. indicating a spherelike enveloping mass

   atmosphere

sphere

²

/ sfɪə /

noun

1. maths

   1. a three-dimensional closed surface such that every point on the surface is equidistant from a given point, the centre

   2. 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

2. any object having approximately this shape; globe

3. the night sky considered as a vaulted roof; firmament

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

5. (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)

6. particular field of activity; environment

   that's out of my sphere

7. a social class or stratum of society

verb

1. to surround or encircle

2. to place aloft or in the heavens

sphere

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

Other Word Forms

• -spheric combining form
• sphereless adjective
• spherelike adjective
• subsphere noun
• unsphering adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of -sphere¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of -sphere¹

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

Example Sentences

The structure of debate, especially quippy one-liners, messaging discipline, and a litany of logically fallacious arguments that you present and that you rationalize in that very moment, makes it much easier for Republicans to dominate in this sphere.

From Slate

Anyma, the project of producer and artist Matteo Miller, was the first electronic act to headline Sphere in Las Vegas.

From Los Angeles Times

The president just gets to do what he wants, and the Supreme Court is expanding the sphere of people who get swept into that kind of thinking.

From Slate

Tesla's board has said its compensation plans for Musk are intended in part to secure assurances that his "involvement with the political sphere would wind down in a timely manner".

From BBC

"Each challenge is comfortably within the sphere of things that happen multiple times every match, both individually and when taken in conjunction with each other," Clattenburg said.

From BBC

Related Words

• circle 
• field 
• realm 
• scope