globe

American  

[glohb] / gloʊb /

noun

• globes
  plural

1. Usually the globe the planet Earth.

2. a planet or other celestial body.

3. a sphere on which is depicted a map of the earth terrestrial globe or of the heavens celestial globe.

4. a spherical body; sphere.

5. anything more or less spherical, as a lampshade or a glass fishbowl.

6. a golden ball traditionally borne as an emblem of sovereignty; orb.

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verb (used with object)

globed, globing

1. to form into a globe.

verb (used without object)

globed, globing

1. to take the form of a globe.

globe British  

/ ɡləʊb /

noun

1. a sphere on which a map of the world or the heavens is drawn or represented

2. the world; the earth

3. a planet or some other astronomical body

4. an object shaped like a sphere, such as a glass lampshade or fish-bowl

5. an electric light bulb

6. an orb, usually of gold, symbolic of authority or sovereignty

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verb

1. to form or cause to form into a globe

Usage

What does globe mean? The word globe most generally refers to a sphere—a ball-like shape or object. Something globe-shaped can be described as globular, which means the same thing as spherical. More specifically, a globe is a three-dimensional model of Earth. (There are also globes representing the moon and other planets, but globes of Earth are most common.) These kinds of globes are associated with their use in classrooms for the subject of geography. The phrase the globe is another way of saying the world or the planet in reference to Earth, as in His name was known in almost every corner of the globe. Example: I started my travels around the globe by spinning a globe and pointing to a random destination.

Synonym Usage

See earth.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• globelike
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• globes
  plural

Etymology

Origin of globe

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Middle French globe, from Latin globus “round body, ball, sphere”

Explanation

A globe doesn't have to be a spherical representation of our planet; it can be anything shaped like one — like a soccer ball or a gumball. Referring to a round shape, globe is often used interchangeably with sphere, though sphere has another meaning of an area of particular interest or a segment of a particular population. Globe is also another name for planet Earth itself, our lovely third rock from the sun — as in "viewers are tuning in from around the globe."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

globe globes globed globing

The rescue teams from across the globe that descended upon this strip of coast are long gone, as is international attention to the plight of La Guaira.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026

A stressed carrier force is a sign that the U.S. doesn’t have sufficient naval assets to cover U.S. interests around the globe.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

The World Bank estimated in 2023 there were up to 435 million online gig workers around the globe who had largely fallen outside regular labour protections.

From Barron's ● Aug. 12, 2026

Here’s a breakdown of what it’s like around the globe:

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 10, 2026

“You have a snow globe collection?” said Mother.

From "City Spies" by James Ponti

He would study maps and globes, picturing the people and animals who call the coldest reaches of the Earth home.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 17, 2026

And it came with added significance as she became the first man or woman in the history of the alpine skiing World Cup to win more than eight globes in a single event.

From Barron's ● Jan. 25, 2026

At one of the stalls selling snow globes are locals Nemer and Leila Awad, who say the markets remind them of Europe.

From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2025

The season title would be Shiffrin’s eighth in slalom, making her the fourth skier to win eight crystal globes – the traditional prize in Alpine skiing – in a single classification.

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 10, 2024

“I’m not joking. They’re in schoolrooms and everywhere. I’ve spent so much time staring at globes I could probably make one.”

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver

Art Deco touches inform outdoor marquees, globed chandeliers, and vintage Audubon wallpaper is glinting with pink birds.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 26, 2024

The Peter Kiewit Foundation no longer is funding the maintenance of Abbott Drive, which includes the so-called String of Pearls - globed lights that line a stretch of the thoroughfare.

From Washington Times ● Jan. 10, 2019

Donors have long paid for the so-called String of Pearls entrance, which features globed lights that line a stretch of Abbott Drive.

From Washington Times ● Dec. 10, 2018

A branch bounces, and out pops a Titi monkey with black, globed eyes and a pewter-colored beard.

From Time Magazine Archive

In the back of the room was a marble fireplace, big as a sepulchre, and a globed gasolier—dripping with prisms and strings of crystal beading—sparkled in the dim.

From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt

I seemed conscious only of a shaft of light, as it were, traversing the darkness and globing itself in a steady disc of radiance on a lonely door.

From At a Winter's Fire by Bernard Edward Joseph Capes

Related Words

• map
• planet
• world