sphere

¹

[ sfeer ]

noun

1. Geometry.
   1. a solid geometric figure generated by the revolution of a semicircle about its diameter; a round body whose surface is at all points equidistant from the center. Equation: x 2 + y 2 + z 2 = r 2 .
   2. the surface of such a figure; a spherical surface.
2. any rounded body approximately of this form; a globular mass, shell, etc.
3. Astronomy.
   1. a planet or star; heavenly body.
   2. celestial sphere.
   3. any of the transparent, concentric, spherical shells, or layers, in which, according to ancient belief, the planets, stars, and other heavenly bodies were set.
4. the place or environment within which a person or thing exists; a field of activity or operation:

   to be out of one's professional sphere.

   Synonyms: domain, realm, compass, province, area, orbit

5. a particular social world, stratum of society, or walk of life:

   His social sphere is small.

   Synonyms: rank, class

6. a field of something specified:

   a sphere of knowledge.

verb (used with object)

, sphered, spher·ing.

1. to enclose in or as if in a sphere.
2. to form into a sphere.
3. to place among the heavenly spheres.

-sphere

²

1. a combining form of sphere ( planisphere ); having a special use in the names of the layers of gases and the like surrounding the earth and other celestial bodies ( ionosphere ).

-sphere

¹

combining form

1. having the shape or form of a sphere

   bathysphere

2. indicating a spherelike enveloping mass

   atmosphere

sphere

²

/ sfɪə /

noun

1. maths
   1. a three-dimensional closed surface such that every point on the surface is equidistant from a given point, the centre
   2. the solid figure bounded by this surface or the space enclosed by it. Equation: ( x–a )² + ( y–b )² + ( z–c )² = r ², where r is the radius and ( a, b, c ) are the coordinates of the centre; surface area: 4π r ²; volume: 4π r ³/3
2. any object having approximately this shape; globe
3. the night sky considered as a vaulted roof; firmament
4. any heavenly object such as a planet, natural satellite, or star
5. (in the Ptolemaic or Copernican systems of astronomy) one of a series of revolving hollow globes, arranged concentrically, on whose transparent surfaces the sun (or in the Copernican system the earth), the moon, the planets, and fixed stars were thought to be set, revolving around the earth (or in the Copernican system the sun)
6. particular field of activity; environment

   that's out of my sphere

7. a social class or stratum of society

verb

1. to surround or encircle
2. to place aloft or in the heavens

sphere

/ sfîr /

1. A three-dimensional geometric surface having all of its points the same distance from a given point.

Derived Forms

• -spheric, combining_form:in_adjective

Other Words From

• sphereless adjective
• spherelike adjective
• subsphere noun
• un·sphering adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sphere¹

1250–1300; < Late Latin sphēra, Latin sphaera globe < Greek sphaîra ball; replacing Middle English spere < Old French spere < Late Latin spēra, variant of sphēra

Word History and Origins

Origin of sphere¹

C14: from Late Latin sphēra, from Latin sphaera globe, from Greek sphaira

Example Sentences

Throughout the years, vandals have occasionally broken off parts of the left hand, toes and a sphere that the figure originally held.

From Los Angeles Times

Despite these defeats, Mahama has remained in the political sphere - he is currently leader of the opposition.

From BBC

The structure that allows the chloroplast to decrease in size in all directions is somewhat similar to that of a Hoberman sphere -- a design patented by Chuck Hoberman in 1988 and used in popular children's toys.

From Science Daily

This observation connects the research of the physicists not only to biology but also to mathematics -- more precisely, the branch of mathematics known as topology -- and to materials design: lab-made materials that have exactly the surprising properties that the Hoberman sphere and P. lunula's chloroplast show, have been intensively studied recently with all sorts of applications in mind -- for instance, as 'smart materials' that significantly change their properties when experiencing external stimuli.

From Science Daily

But all eyes were on Chancay and what it says about China's growing assertiveness in a region that the US has traditionally seen as its sphere of influence.

From BBC

Related Words

• circle
• field
• realm
• scope