sphere

Meaning

Noun

1. A surface in three dimensions consisting of all points equidistant from a center. .
2. An object which appears to be bounded by a sphere; a round object, a ball.
3. (archaic) The celestial sphere: the edge of the heavens, imagined as a hollow globe within which celestial bodies appear to be embedded.
4. (historical) 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).
5. An area of activity for a planet; or by extension, an area of influence for a god, hero etc.
6. (figuratively) The region in which something or someone is active; one's province, domain.
7. The natural, normal, or proper place (of something).
8. 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 .
9. (dated) The domain of reference of a proposition, subject, or predicate, or the totality of the particular subjects to which it applies.

Verb

1. (transitive) To place in a sphere, or among the spheres; to ensphere.
2. (transitive) To make round or spherical; to perfect.

Synonyms

ball

globe

field

area

domain

realm

circle

⭕

orb

range

orbit

extent

scope

sector

planet

compass

🧭

zone

arena

bowl

world

🗺️

ring

💍

sphere of influence

region

precinct

territory

district

demesne

branch

spherical object

vault of heaven

department

belt

firmament

welkin

ensphere

empyrean

spherical

earth

celestial sphere

limits

bullet

heavens

ground

limit

cycle

container

atmosphere

conglomeration

conglobation

boundary

fraternity

Translations

sphère

esfera

sfera

Kugel

esfera

Sphäre

boule

σφαίρα

bol

sfeer

esfera

Bereich

domaine

küre

Pronounced as (IPA)

/sfɪə(ɹ)/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: spere

In summary

From Middle English spere, from Old French sphere, from Late Latin sphēra, earlier Latin sphaera (“ball, globe, celestial sphere”), from Ancient Greek σφαῖρα (sphaîra, “ball, globe”), of unknown origin. Not related to superficially similar Persian سپهر (sepehr, “sky”) .