Sphere definition

sfĭr
sphered spheres sphering
See word origin
Frequency:
A spherical object or figure.
noun
8
5
A three-dimensional geometric surface having all of its points the same distance from a given point.
4
1
Any of the atmospheric layers surrounding a planet or star.

Chromosphere.

affix
3
1
Social stratum; place in society; walk of life.
noun
2
0
The sky, appearing as a hemisphere to an observer.

The sphere of the heavens.

noun
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9
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The visible heavens; sky.
noun
2
1
A star, planet, etc.
noun
1
0
Any of a series of hypothetical spherical shells, transparent, concentric, and postulated as revolving one within another, in which the stars, planets, sun, moon, etc. are supposedly set: a concept of ancient astronomy.
noun
1
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To put in or as in a sphere.
verb
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To put among the heavenly spheres.
verb
1
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To form into a sphere.
verb
1
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A celestial body, such as a planet or star.
noun
4
4
Any of a series of concentric, transparent, revolving globes that together were once thought to contain the moon, sun, planets, and stars.
noun
2
2
A place, range, or extent of knowledge, experience, influence, etc.
noun
2
2
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Something, esp. a cell or body part, resembling a sphere.

Oosphere.

affix
2
2
To sphere is defined as to enclose in or put into a round shape.

An example of to sphere is to create a paper mache Earth for a science demonstration.

verb
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A range or extent of knowledge, interest, or activity.

A problem that falls within the sphere of biophysics.

noun
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A social level or part of society or group.

Knew few people beyond his partner's sphere.

noun
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A range of power or influence.

Within the sphere of the empire.

noun
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(mathematics) A regular three-dimensional object in which every cross-section is a circle; the figure described by the revolution of a circle about its diameter [from 14th c.].
noun
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A spherical physical object; a globe or ball. [from 14th c.]
noun
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0
(astronomy, now rare) The apparent outer limit of space; the edge of the heavens, imagined as a hollow globe within which celestial bodies appear to be embedded. [from 14th c.]
noun
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0
(historical, astronomy, mythology) Any of the concentric hollow transparent globes formerly believed to rotate around the Earth, and which carried the heavenly bodies; there were originally believed to be eight, and later nine and ten; friction between them was thought to cause a harmonious sound (the music of the spheres). [from 14th c.]
noun
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(mythology) An area of activity for a planet; or by extension, an area of influence for a god, hero etc. [from 14th c.]
noun
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(figuratively) The region in which something or someone is active; one's province, domain. [from 17th c.]
noun
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(geometry) The set of all points in three-dimensional Euclidean space (n-dimensional space, in topology) that are a fixed distance from a fixed point [from 20th c.].
noun
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(logic) The extension of a general conception, or the totality of the individuals or species to which it may be applied.
noun
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0
To place in a sphere, or among the spheres; to ensphere.
verb
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0
To make round or spherical; to perfect.

verb
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Part or all of this entry has been imported from the 1913 edition of Webster's Dictionary, which is now free of copyright and hence in the public domain. The imported definitions may be significantly out of date, and any more recent senses may be completely missing.
verb
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(mathematics) Used to form nouns indicating a sphere of x dimensions.

N-sphere.

suffix
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Designating some layer of the Earth.
suffix
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The definition of a sphere is a ball shape where the surface is the same distance from the center at all points or a level of society.

An example of a sphere is a globe.

An example of a sphere is the upper crust or those in the highest levels of society.

noun
0
1
(mathematics) A three-dimensional surface, all points of which are equidistant from a fixed point.
noun
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1
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To form into a sphere.
verb
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1
To put in or within a sphere.
verb
0
1
Any round body or figure having the surface equally distant from the center at all points; globe; ball.
noun
0
1

Other Word Forms

Noun

Singular:
sphere
Plural:
spheres

Origin of sphere

  • Middle English spere from Old French espere from Latin sphaera from Greek sphaira

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

  • From Old French sphere, from Late Latin sphÄ“ra, earlier Latin sphaera (“ball, globe, celestial sphere"), from Ancient Greek σφαῖρα (sphaira, “ball, globe"), of unknown origin. Compare Persian سپهر (sepehr, “sky")

    From Wiktionary

Sphere Sentence Examples

  • His sphere of action, however, was not in parliament.

  • The continental area is on one side of the sphere and the oceanic on the other.

  • Let a conductor, say a metallic sphere, be supported by a metal rod of negligible electric capacity whose other end is earthed.

  • By a treaty made between Great Britain and Siam in 1902 the northern Malay states of the peninsula were admitted to lie within the Siamese sphere of influence, but by a treaty of 1909 Siam ceded her suzerain rights over the states of Kelantan, Trengganu, Kedah and Perlis to Britain.

  • The Stoic philosophers, especially Crates of Mallus, arguing from the love of nature for life, placed an oekumene in each quarter of the sphere, the three unknown worldislands being those of the Antoeci, Perioeci and Antipodes.

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Words near sphere in the Dictionary