sphere

== English == === Alternative forms === sphaere, sphære, sphear, spheare (all obsolete) === Etymology === 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”) (Can this(+) etymology be sourced?). Displaced Old English cliewen, þoþor, and æppel. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /sfɪə/ (Standard Southern British) IPA(key): /sfɪː/, /ˈsfɪj.ə/ (US) enPR: sfîr, IPA(key): /sfɪɚ/ (Scotland) IPA(key): /sfiɾ/ (East Anglia, cheer–chair merger) IPA(key): /sfɛː/ Rhymes: -ɪə(ɹ) === Noun === sphere (plural spheres) (mathematics) A surface in three dimensions consisting of all points equidistant from a center. [from 14th c.]. Alternative form: S (symbol) Synonym: (topology) 2-sphere An object which appears to be bounded by a sphere; a round object, a ball. [from 14th c.] Synonym: orb (astronomy, now rare) The celestial sphere: the edge of the heavens, imagined as a hollow globe within which celestial bodies appear to be embedded. [from 14th c.] (historical, astronomy, mythology) 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). [from 14th c.] (mythology) An area of activity for a planet; or by extension, an area of influence for a god, hero etc. [from 14th c.] (figuratively) The region in which something or someone is active; one's province, domain. [from 17th c.] Synonyms: area, field, orbit, sector sphere of influence The natural, normal, or proper place (of something). Synonym: element in one's sphere (geometry) 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 [from 20th c.]. (logic, dated) The domain of reference of a proposition, subject, or predicate, or the totality of the particular subjects to which it applies. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Verb === sphere (third-person singular simple present spheres, present participle sphering, simple past and past participle sphered) (transitive) To place in a sphere, or among the spheres; to ensphere. (transitive) To make round or spherical; to perfect. === See also === ball (in topology) Mathworld article on the sphere PlanetMath article on the sphere === References === “sphere”, in OneLook Dictionary Search. === Anagrams === Hesper, herpes, pesher, pheers == Middle French == === Alternative forms === sphaere spere === Noun === sphere f (plural spheres) sphere (shape) ==== Descendants ==== French: sphère == Old French == === Alternative forms === espere esphere spere === Noun === sphere oblique singular, f (oblique plural spheres, nominative singular sphere, nominative plural spheres) sphere (shape) ==== Descendants ==== English: sphere French: sphère === References === Frédéric Godefroy (1880–1902), “sphere”, in Dictionnaire de l’ancienne langue française et de tous ses dialectes du IXe au XVe siècle […], Paris: F[riedrich] Vieweg; Émile Bouillon, →OCLC.