orb
Americannoun
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orbs
plural
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a sphere or globe.
a Christmas tree hung with brightly colored orbs.
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the eyeball or eye.
He looks with blind orbs on an indifferent world.
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any of the heavenly bodies, as the sun or moon.
He lay on the grass, warmed by that orb of day, the sun.
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a globe bearing a cross; the mound or emblem of sovereignty, especially as part of the regalia of England.
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Astrology. the number of degrees from exactness within which an aspect operates.
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a circle or something circular.
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Astronomy. (formerly) the orbit of a heavenly body.
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the earth.
verb (used with object)
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to form into a circle or sphere.
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Archaic. to encircle; enclose.
verb (used without object)
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to move in an orbit.
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to form into an orb or globe; round out.
noun
verb
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to make or become circular or spherical
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(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
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
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."
Vocabulary lists containing orb
Essential Three-Letter Words, Part 3
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The Crossover
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"Duty," Vocabulary from the short story
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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.
See Examples For:
Nevertheless the moon, which is described as an orange, amber or golden orb, will still appear full to the naked eye overnight on Tuesday and Wednesday.
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
The temporary change in ownership is heralded by a giant orange orb the size of a hot-air balloon, adorned with the U.S.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 26, 2026
However, some discoveries resist easy answers, and the "golden orb" became one of those rare, lingering mysteries.
From Science Daily ● Apr. 27, 2026
The Moon appeared to them as a black orb surrounded by a halo of light, all set against the backdrop of the vast darkness of space.
From Barron's ● Apr. 10, 2026
This time, a second, larger orb kicked on, nearly blinding him with the strength of its Jade light.
From "A Wish in the Dark" by Christina Soontornvat
More recently, a senior US intelligence officer said he saw "countless orange orbs swarming in all directions" last year rendering him "speechless".
From BBC ● May 22, 2026
He described spotting mysterious "orange orbs flaring up and down" when investigating "loud thuds heard in the mountains" on a test range where others had spotted UFOs in preceding days.
From BBC ● May 22, 2026
Let’s pause here to clarify: The colorful parts of a poinsettia aren’t really flowers; those are the tiny yellow and red orbs in the center of the plant.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 20, 2025
For some, though, “fruit salad” still conjures images of syrup-slicked fruit orbs — maybe even veering into ambrosia territory.
From Salon ● May 31, 2025
Somkit took a deep breath, and then, very carefully, as if he were talking to a toddler, he began to explain the levels of orbs.
From "A Wish in the Dark" by Christina Soontornvat
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.
