orb

[awrb]

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.

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

/ 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

verb

1. to make or become circular or spherical

2. (tr) an archaic word for encircle

Other Word Forms

• orbless adjective
• orblike adjective
• unorbed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of orb¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of orb¹

C16: from Latin orbis circle, disc

Example Sentences

In front of me, the sheet of red light collects and condenses into an orb of golden Obayifo spirit.

Read more on Literature

So each day we face the heavenly orb in the sky and pray, asking Ra to continue giving us the gift of life on earth.

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At dusk, worshippers stood waist-deep in the river's brown waters to offer prayers to the sun god Surya as the setting orb sank into the haze blanketing New Delhi's skyline, marking the annual Chhath festival.

Read more on Barron's

Through November, the museum features an open-air spider pavilion, a ticketed exhibit that allows visitors to walk amid hundreds of spiders known as orb weavers and their intricate webs.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Each bite became its own surprise package: a tidy, glossy orb that burst when pulled apart, stretching cheese in gooey strings.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• sphere 

When To Use

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.