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View synonyms for

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. 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: , , , , ,

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

    His social sphere is small.

    Synonyms: ,

  6. a field of something specified:

    a sphere of knowledge.



verb (used with object)

sphered, sphering.
  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

“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

sphere

2

/ ɪə /

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: ( –a )² + ( –b )² + ( –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
“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

verb

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

sphere

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

  • -spheric, combining_form:in_adjective
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Other Word Forms

  • l adjective
  • l adjective
  • ܲs noun
  • ܲ·iԲ adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of sphere1

1250–1300; < Late Latin ŧ, Latin sphaera globe < Greek î ball; replacing Middle English spere < Old French spere < Late Latin ŧ, variant of ŧ
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Word History and Origins

Origin of sphere1

C14: from Late Latin ŧ, from Latin sphaera globe, from Greek sphaira
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The misconception that women, and certainly older women, have little to contribute to the comedy sphere drives the undercurrent of Max’s popular comedy-drama “Hacks,” which premiered its fourth season on Thursday.

From

The father-of-four used his camera lens to bring the Moon and Wales' highest peak into the same sphere after identifying the perfect vantage point.

From

Culture is the sphere in which people debate and determine who they are, what they value and the kinds of lives they wish to lead.

From

Its tight control over the information sphere means it will be unlikely to drop its barriers to American technology companies, for example.

From

The United States will have a sphere of influence and we will cede Europe to Putin as his sphere of influence and feed perhaps Asia to China.

From

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spheralsphere of influence