sphere
Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary
See also sphère
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[edit] English
[edit] Alternative spellings
- sphære (archaic)
[edit] Etymology
From Old French espere, from late Latin sphēra, earlier sphaera (“‘ball, globe, celestial sphere’”), from Ancient Greek σφαῖρα (“‘ball, globe’”), of unknown origin.
[edit] Pronunciation
- Rhymes: -ɪə(r)
[edit] Noun
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Singular |
Plural |
sphere (plural spheres)
- (geometry)A regular three-dimensional object in which every cross-section is a circle; the figure described by the revolution of a semi-circle about its diameter.
- (mathematics) The set of all points in three-dimensional Euclidean space (or n.-dimensional space, in topology) that are a fixed distance from a fixed point.
- A spherical object; a globe or ball.
- The apparent outer limit of space, the edge of the heavens, imagined as a hollow globe within which celestial bodies appear to be embedded.
- (historical, astronomy) 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).
- 1603, John Florio, translating Michel de Montaigne, Essays, vol. 1 p. 153:
- It is more simplicitie to teach our children [...] [t]he knowledge of the starres, and the motion of the eighth spheare, before their owne.
- 1603, John Florio, translating Michel de Montaigne, Essays, vol. 1 p. 153:
- (figuratively) An area of activity for a planet; or by extension, an area of influence for a god, hero etc.
- The region in which something or someone is active; one's province, domain.
[edit] Synonyms
- (object): ball, globe, orb
- (region of activity): area, domain, field, orbit, sector
- (in geometry): 3-sphere (geometry), 2-sphere (topology)
- (astronomy: apparent surface of the heavens): See celestial sphere
- (astronomy: anything visible on the apparent surface of the heavens): See celestial body
[edit] Derived terms
[edit] Related terms
[edit] Translations
spherical object
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geometrical figure
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region of activity
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astronomy: apparent surface of the heavens — see celestial sphere
- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.
