Orb definition

ôrb
orbs
See word origin
Frequency:
A sphere or spherical object.
noun
7
2
An eye or eyeball.
noun
7
2
A globe surmounted by a cross, used as a symbol of monarchial power and justice.
noun
3
0
One of a series of concentric transparent spheres thought by ancient and medieval astronomers to revolve about the earth and carry the celestial bodies.
noun
4
3
A sphere, or globe.
noun
1
0
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A small globe with a cross on top, as a symbol of royal power.
noun
1
0
(archaic) A collective body; organized whole.
noun
1
0
(rare) To move in an orbit.
verb
1
0
(archaic) Something of circular form; a circle or orbit.
noun
0
0
A celestial body, such as the sun or moon.
noun
0
0
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(archaic) The earth.
noun
0
0
To shape into a circle or sphere.
verb
0
0
(archaic) To encircle; enclose.
verb
0
0
(old poet.) The eye or eyeball.
noun
0
0
(rare) Anything circular in form; circle.
noun
0
0
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(astrol.) The sphere of influence of a planet, star, or house.
noun
0
0
Any of the celestial bodies, as the sun or moon.
noun
0
0
(obs.) The earth.
noun
0
0
The orbit of a planet.
noun
0
0
A sphere of activity; province.
noun
0
0
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Rank; status.
noun
0
0
To form into a sphere or circle.
verb
0
0
(old poet.) To enclose or encircle.
verb
0
0
A sphere or spherical object.
noun
0
0
An eye or eyeball.
noun
0
0
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A spherical body; a globe; especially, one of the celestial spheres; a sun, planet, or star.

In the small orb of one particular tear. --Shakespeare.

Whether the prime orb, Incredible how swift, had thither rolled. -- John Milton.

noun
0
0
One of the azure transparent spheres conceived by the ancients to be inclosed one within another, and to carry the heavenly bodies in their revolutions.
noun
0
0
A circle; especially, a circle, or nearly circular orbit, described by the revolution of a heavenly body; an orbit.

The schoolmen were like astronomers, which did feign eccentrics, and epicycles, and such engines of orbs. --Bacon.

You seem to me as Dian in her orb. --Shakespeare.

In orbs Of circuit inexpressible they stood, Orb within orb. --John Milton.

noun
0
0
(rare) A period of time marked off by the revolution of a heavenly body. --John Milton.
noun
0
0
(poetic) The eye, as luminous and spherical.

A drop serene hath quenched their orbs. --John Milton.

noun
0
0
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(poetic) A revolving circular body; a wheel.

The orbs Of his fierce chariot rolled. --John Milton.

noun
0
0
(rare) A sphere of action. --William Wordsworth.

But in our orbs we'll live so round and safe. --Shakespeare.

noun
0
0
A globus cruciger.
noun
0
0
A translucent sphere appearing in flash photography.
noun
0
0
(military) A body of soldiers drawn up in a circle, as for defence, especially infantry to repel cavalry.
noun
0
0
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(poetic) To form into an orb or circle.

verb
0
0
(poetic) To encircle; to surround; to enclose.
verb
0
0
(poetic, intransitive) To become round like an orb.
verb
0
0
(architecture) A blank window or panel.

noun
0
0
(software engineering) Initialism of Object Request Broker.
initialism
0
0
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To move in an orbit.
verb
1
2
(old poet.) To take on the shape of an orb.
verb
0
1

Other Word Forms

Noun

Singular:
orb
Plural:
orbs

Origin of orb

  • Middle English orbe orbit from Old French from Latin orbis circle, disk, orbit orbh- in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • French orbe, from Latin orbis (“circle, orb"). Compare orbit.

    From Wiktionary

  • Old French orb (“blind"), from Latin orbus (“destitute").

    From Wiktionary

Orb Sentence Examples

  • In the middle of the orphrey is a figure of Our Lord holding the orb in His left hand.

  • He almost dropped the orb in his hand.

  • He gathered his power, and an orb of light formed in his hands.

  • The basin of the Garonne occupies south-western France with the exception of the tracts covered by the secondary basins of the Adour, the Aude, the Hrault, the Orb and other smaller rivers, and the lowlying plain of the Landes, which is watered by numerous coast rivers, notably by the Leyre.

  • The air was temperate, the sky was serene, the silver orb of the moon was reflected from the waters, and all nature was silent.

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Also Mentioned In

Words near orb in the Dictionary