US /sfɪɚ/ UK /sfɪə(ɹ)/
noun verb Freq #11234

Meanings

  1. 1
    noun

    A perfectly round solid shape, like a ball.

    The Earth is not a perfect sphere but bulges slightly at the equator.

  2. 2
    noun

    An area of activity, knowledge, or influence.

    Money matters fall outside my sphere of expertise.

  3. 3
    noun

    A particular part of society or way of life.

    In her professional sphere she is widely respected.

Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 noun · a perfectly round solid... orbball
2 noun · an area of activity,... areafielddomainsector
3 noun · a particular part of... field
Word family
Forms spheres
Derived forms afrosphereamylosphereangiosphereanthosphereasphereastrospherebronchospherecardiospherecarpospherecaulospherecircumspherecolonosphere
Related forms atmosphereballhemispheremagnetospheren-sphereplanispheresphericalspheroid

Etymology

Etymology tree Ancient Greek σφαῖρᾰ (sphaîră)bor. Latin sphaera Late Latin sphērader. Old French spherebor. Middle English spere English sphere 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”) .

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