sphere

1 of 3

noun

ˈsfir 

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 sense a

2

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 Formulas Table

(2)

: the bounding surface of a sphere

3

: natural, normal, or proper place

especially : social order or rank

not in the same sphere as his moneyed friends

4

a

obsolete : orbit

b

: an area or range over or within which someone or something acts, exists, or has influence or significance

the public sphere

spheric

ˈsfir-ik 

ˈsfer-

adjective archaic

sphericity

sfir-ˈi-sə-tē 

noun

sphere

2 of 3

verb

sphered; sphering

transitive verb

1

: to place in a sphere or among the spheres : ensphere

2

: to form into a sphere

-sphere

3 of 3

combining form

ˌsfir

1

: zone, layer or region enveloping or radiating from the earth or another celestial body

ionosphere

magnetosphere

2

: collectivity : totality (as specified by the initial element)

biosphere

blogosphere

Synonyms

Noun

• ball
• globe
• orb

Example Sentences

Noun

All points on a sphere are the same distance from the center.

Women at that time were confined to the domestic sphere.

They recognize that jobs in the public sphere are valuable.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The artist reckons with the way the digital sphere shapes and reflects collective consciousness. —Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 16 Feb. 2023

Influencers’ work has become critical to the commercial sphere and in shaping public discourse, but in its current form, the industry makes exploitation—both by and of influencers, brands, and social media companies—too easy. —WIRED, 14 Feb. 2023

Caviar Kaspia assumes its authentic attachment to the international sphere of fashion and creatives. —Isiah Magsino, Town & Country, 13 Feb. 2023

For now, her reach is still somewhat limited to the digital sphere. —Harper's BAZAAR, 6 Feb. 2023

Given LuisaViaRoma’s decades-long run, and its success in the digital sphere, this may not set off any alarms for either company. —Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 21 Dec. 2022

Why, then, has the eggplant deposed the banana as the most phallic of fruits, at least in the digital sphere? —Ligaya Mishan Melody Melamed, New York Times, 23 Nov. 2022

Operating in the digital sphere reduces downtime and improves asset management while removing workers from dangerous in-the-field situations. —Expert Panel®, Forbes, 11 Oct. 2022

Since then, Russia has been preparing for foreign sanctions and even cyberattacks on its domestic internet, while tightening its control over the digital sphere. —Scott Nover, Quartz, 13 Apr. 2022

Verb

The night culminated with a countdown as a glowing geodesic sphere 12 feet in diameter and weighing almost six tons descended from its lofty perch atop One Times Square. —CBS News, 1 Jan. 2023

And young people are innovating outside that sphere as well, including Southern-gothic singer-songwriter Ethel Cain and art-rockers Geese. —Vulture, 6 June 2022

One is to look at the long-term, dangerous, even potential catastrophic impacts of climate change as an existential security threat that justifies the sorts of actions outside the security sphere that will be necessary to avoid those impacts. —Keith Kloor, Discover Magazine, 6 May 2010

But with those four, Grande was able to establish her credibility in the fragrance sphere early in her music career. —Emily Jensen, Harper's BAZAAR, 16 Nov. 2022

Check out the velvet sphere from CB2 or Athena Calderone’s shearling spherical pillow from Crate & Barrel. —Jura Koncius, Washington Post, 2 Nov. 2022

Sixty-five years ago, a metal sphere the size of a basketball caught the U.S. science, military and intelligence communities by surprise. —Jonathan Osborne, Scientific American, 26 Oct. 2022

Starbucks' pumpkin spice latte came out in 2003, and by the late 2000s, the fall trend had trickled from the novelty coffee drinks sphere into the beer world. —Emma Balter, Chron, 10 Oct. 2022

Silver and Spellman have both have put their stamps on the comic book sphere in different ways. —Aaron Couch, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Oct. 2022

See More

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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 entry 1

Combining form

extracted from atmosphere

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Verb

1602, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing sphere

• celestial sphere
• sphere of influence
• armillary sphere

• celestial sphere
• sphere of influence
• armillary sphere

Kids Definition

sphere

noun

ˈsfi(ə)r

1

a

: a globe-shaped body : ball, globe

b

: a solid geometric shape whose surface is made up of all the points that are an equal distance from the point that is the shape's center

c

: the surface of a sphere

2

: a field of influence or activity

the public sphere

sphericity

sfir-ˈis-ət-ē

noun