sphere

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a particular environment or walk of life

   Their social sphere is limited.

2. 2
   noun

   An object which appears to be bounded by a sphere; a round object, a ball.

   Of celestial bodies, first the sun, / A mighty sphere, he framed.

3. 3
   noun

   The celestial sphere: the edge of the heavens, imagined as a hollow globe within which celestial bodies appear to be embedded.

   Though cold and darkness longer hang somewhere, / Yet Phoebus equally lights all the Sphere.

4. 4
   noun

   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).

   ſooner ſhall the Sun fall from his Spheare, Than Tamburlaine be ſlaine or ouercome.

5. 5
   noun

   The region in which something or someone is active; one's province, domain.

   sphere of influence

6. 6
   noun

   The natural, normal, or proper place (of something).

   in one's sphere

7. 7
   noun

   The domain of reference of a proposition, subject, or predicate, or the totality of the particular subjects to which it applies.

   In point of fact, so often as we think a subject as partially included within the sphere of a predicate, eo ipso we think it as partially, that is, particularly, excluded therefrom.

8. 8
   verb

   To place in a sphere, or among the spheres; to ensphere.

   The glorious planet Sol / In noble eminence enthroned and sphered / Amidst the other.

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”) .