orb

[ awrb ]
See synonyms for: orborbedorbs on Thesaurus.com

noun
  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.

  1. any of the heavenly bodies, as the sun or moon: He lay on the grass, warmed by that orb of day, the sun.

  2. a globe bearing a cross; the mound or emblem of sovereignty, especially as part of the regalia of England.

  3. Astrology. the number of degrees from exactness within which an aspect operates.

  4. a circle or something circular.

  5. Astronomy. (formerly) the orbit of a heavenly body.

  6. the earth.

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.

Origin of orb

1
First recorded in 1520–30, orb is from the Latin word orbis circle, disk, orb

Other words from orb

  • orbless, adjective
  • orblike, adjective
  • un·orbed, adjective

Words Nearby orb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use orb in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for orb

orb

/ (ɔːb) /


noun
  1. (in royal regalia) an ornamental sphere surmounted by a cross, representing the power of a sovereign

  2. a sphere; globe

  1. poetic another word for eye 1

  2. obsolete, or poetic

    • a celestial body, esp the earth or sun

    • the orbit of a celestial body

  3. an archaic word for circle

verb
  1. to make or become circular or spherical

  2. (tr) an archaic word for encircle

Origin of orb

1
C16: from Latin orbis circle, disc

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012