Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

armillary sphere

noun
ar·​mil·​la·​ry sphere | \ ˈär-mə-ˌler-ē-, är-ˈmi-lə-rē- \

Definition of armillary sphere

: an old astronomical instrument composed of rings showing the positions of important circles of the celestial sphere

First Known Use of armillary sphere

1625, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for armillary sphere

French sphère armillaire, from Medieval Latin armilla, from Latin, bracelet, iron ring, from armus shoulder — more at arm

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about armillary sphere

Share armillary sphere

Statistics for armillary sphere

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for armillary sphere

The first known use of armillary sphere was in 1625

See more words from the same year

More from Merriam-Webster on armillary sphere

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about armillary sphere

Comments on armillary sphere

What made you want to look up armillary sphere? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

substantive

important, real, or meaningful

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Homophone Quiz

  • three-bears-two-of-them-look-like-theyre-whispering-to-a-third-bear-who-looks-chuffed-to-be-the-center-of-attention
  • In order to judge how people felt, the senator's office hired a firm to take a ______.
True or False

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Word Winder's CrossWinder

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games