geosphere
Britishnoun
Explanation
The geosphere is the scientific name for the solid parts of a planet. When you go for a hike, you can think of the ground beneath your feet as part of the Earth's geosphere. In Earth science or geoscience, the geosphere refers to the parts of our planet that are solid (like the mantle and crust). The liquid and gaseous parts are called the hydrosphere and atmosphere. Geosphere, coined in the late 19th century, was modeled after atmosphere, with the Greek prefix geo-, "earth."
Vocabulary lists containing geosphere
Global Climate Change - Introductory
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Earth Science - Middle School
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Ecology - Matter and Energy Flow in Ecosystems- Introductory
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
First, the atmosphere, hydrosphere, geosphere and biosphere are linked.
From Scientific American • Jul. 6, 2022
Planets, meanwhile, are immensely complex economies of energy and matter that cycle between vast reservoirs in the oceans and atmosphere, the cryosphere, geosphere and biosphere.
From The Guardian • May 26, 2019
Nitrogen-containing compounds, such as ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate, are in the biosphere, geosphere, and hydrosphere.
From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2018
Soil is a combination of air, water, minerals, and organic matter that forms at the transition between the biosphere and geosphere.
From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2017
We were posing in front of the Spaceship Earth geosphere at Epcot for my thirteenth birthday.
From "Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence" by Sonja Thomas
![]()
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.