Main Entry:

¹sphere

Pronunciation:

\ˈsfir\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English spere globe, celestial sphere, from Anglo-French espere, from Latin sphaera, from Greek sphaira, literally, ball; perhaps akin to Greek spairein to quiver — more at spurn

Date:

14th century

1 a (1): the apparent surface of the heavens of which half forms the dome of the visible sky (2): any of the concentric and eccentric revolving spherical transparent shells in which according to ancient astronomy stars, sun, planets, and moon are set b: a globe depicting such a sphere ; broadly : globe a2 a: a globular body : ball b: planet, star c (1): a solid that is bounded by a surface consisting of all points at a given distance from a point constituting its center — see volume table (2): the bounding surface of a sphere3: natural, normal, or proper place ; especially : social order or rank <not in the same sphere as his moneyed friends>4 aobsolete : orbit b: an area or range over or within which someone or something acts, exists, or has influence or significance <the public sphere>

— spher·ic \ˈsfir-ik, ˈsfer-\ adjective archaic

— sphe·ric·i·ty \sfir-ˈi-sə-tē\ noun