orb

American  

[awrb] / ɔrb /

noun

• orbs
  plural

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.

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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 British  

/ 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

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verb

1. to make or become circular or spherical

2. (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

• orbless
  adjective
• orblike
  adjective
• unorbed
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• orbs
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of orb

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

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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."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

orb orbs

According to the Post, the large orb fell while being carried by untrained staff, resulting in the loss of a large chunk of the world near Antarctica.

From Barron's ● Oct. 22, 2026

Especially not a green, alien orb that levitates him.

From Salon ● Aug. 31, 2026

Video of another orb says it shows a spherical UAP zooming over the Yellow Sea in 2022.

From BBC ● May 22, 2026

Knowing approximately when to head home for the day could be guessed by examining nature—even by looking at a sheep’s pupils, which go from a rectangular slit to a wide orb as the light fades.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 17, 2026

The family was in Tanaburi because someone from the Commission on Law and Light Regulation had finally noticed that no one in the village had ever bought an orb.

From "A Wish in the Dark" by Christina Soontornvat

On “Souls of Fire,” Mr. Light’s guitar track is reversed—heard backward—to produce briefly glowing orbs of sound that intensify the song’s elegiac mood.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026

Social media fuelled a spike in interest over recent years – with her museum's bold floral shapes and shiny steel orbs turning into a desired backdrop for selfies and poses.

From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026

And it was not until the 1990s that her vivid patterns, bold floral shapes and shiny steel orbs hit the mainstream, later providing the backdrop to countless selfies.

From Barron's ● Aug. 27, 2026

For some, though, “fruit salad” still conjures images of syrup-slicked fruit orbs — maybe even veering into ambrosia territory.

From Salon ● May 31, 2025

Away from the clubs’ thumping drumbeats, the alleys became more dingy, with fewer orbs.

From "A Wish in the Dark" by Christina Soontornvat

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Related Words

• sphere

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