sphere

sphere  (sfr)

n.

1. Mathematics A three-dimensional surface, all points of which are equidistant from a fixed point.

2. A spherical object or figure.

3. A celestial body, such as a planet or star.

4. The sky, appearing as a hemisphere to an observer: the sphere of the heavens.

5. Any of a series of concentric, transparent, revolving globes that together were once thought to contain the moon, sun, planets, and stars.

6. The extent of a person's knowledge, interests, or social position.

7. An area of power, control, or influence; domain. See Synonyms at field.

tr.v. sphered, spher·ing, spheres

1. To form into a sphere.

2. To put in or within a sphere.

3. To surround or encompass.

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[Middle English spere, from Old French espere, from Latin sphaera, from Greek sphaira.]

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sphe·rici·ty (sfî-rs-t) n.

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sphere [sfɪə]

n

1. (Mathematics) Maths

a.  a three-dimensional closed surface such that every point on the surface is equidistant from a given point, the centre

b.  the solid figure bounded by this surface or the space enclosed by it. Equation: (x-a)² + (y-b)² + (z-c)² = r², where r is the radius and (a, b, c) are the coordinates of the centre; surface area: 4πr²; volume: 4πr³/3

2. any object having approximately this shape; globe

3. (Astronomy) the night sky considered as a vaulted roof; firmament

4. (Astronomy) any heavenly object such as a planet, natural satellite, or star

5. (Astronomy) (in the Ptolemaic or Copernican systems of astronomy) one of a series of revolving hollow globes, arranged concentrically, on whose transparent surfaces the sun (or in the Copernican system the earth), the moon, the planets, and fixed stars were thought to be set, revolving around the earth (or in the Copernican system the sun)

6. particular field of activity; environment that's out of my sphere

7. (Sociology) a social class or stratum of society

vb (tr) Chiefly poetic

1. to surround or encircle

2. to place aloft or in the heavens

[from Late Latin sphēra, from Latin sphaera globe, from Greek sphaira]

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sphere  (sfîr)

A three-dimensional geometric surface having all of its points the same distance from a given point.

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Sphere the persons with whom one is normally in contact, 1839; a group of persons of a certain rank, standing, or interest, 1601.

Examples: sphere of sweet affections, 1602; of fortunes, 1671; of the theatre; of the world of music.

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sphere

• great circle - Any circle on the surface of a sphere that lies on a plane through its center, or a circle that divides into two equal parts—as the Equator.
• quadrant - A quarter of a circle or sphere.
• rhumb line - A line on a sphere that cuts all meridians at the same angle; the path taken by a ship or plane that maintains a constant compass direction.
• diameter - From Greek, meaning "measure through" (a circle or sphere, etc.).

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	sphere - a particular environment or walk of life; "his social sphere is limited"; "it was a closed area of employment"; "he's out of my orbit" arena, domain, orbit, area, field environment - the totality of surrounding conditions; "he longed for the comfortable environment of his living room" distaff - the sphere of work by women front - a sphere of activity involving effort; "the Japanese were active last week on the diplomatic front"; "they advertise on many different fronts" kingdom, realm, land - a domain in which something is dominant; "the untroubled kingdom of reason"; "a land of make-believe"; "the rise of the realm of cotton in the south" lap - an area of control or responsibility; "the job fell right in my lap" political arena, political sphere - a sphere of intense political activity preserve - a domain that seems to be specially reserved for someone; "medicine is no longer a male preserve" province, responsibility - the proper sphere or extent of your activities; "it was his province to take care of himself"
	2.	sphere - any spherically shaped artifact artefact, artifact - a man-made object taken as a whole globe - a sphere on which a map (especially of the earth) is represented
	3.	sphere - the geographical area in which one nation is very influential sphere of influence geographic area, geographic region, geographical area, geographical region - a demarcated area of the Earth
	4.	sphere - a particular aspect of life or activity; "he was helpless in an important sector of his life" sector aspect, facet - a distinct feature or element in a problem; "he studied every facet of the question" department - a specialized sphere of knowledge; "baking is not my department"; "his work established a new department of literature"
	5.	sphere - a solid figure bounded by a spherical surface (including the space it encloses) round shape - a shape that is curved and without sharp angles conglobation, conglomeration - a rounded spherical form globe, orb, ball - an object with a spherical shape; "a ball of fire" drop, bead, pearl - a shape that is spherical and small; "he studied the shapes of low-viscosity drops"; "beads of sweat on his forehead"
	6.	sphere - a three-dimensional closed surface such that every point on the surface is equidistant from the center steradian, sr - the unit of solid angle adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites round shape - a shape that is curved and without sharp angles
	7.	sphere - the apparent surface of the imaginary sphere on which celestial bodies appear to be projected celestial sphere, empyrean, firmament, heavens, vault of heaven, welkin apex of the sun's way, solar apex, apex - the point on the celestial sphere toward which the sun and solar system appear to be moving relative to the fixed stars celestial point - a point in the heavens (on the celestial sphere) nadir - the point below the observer that is directly opposite the zenith on the imaginary sphere against which celestial bodies appear to be projected surface - the extended two-dimensional outer boundary of a three-dimensional object; "they skimmed over the surface of the water"; "a brush small enough to clean every dental surface"; "the sun has no distinct surface" zenith - the point above the observer that is directly opposite the nadir on the imaginary sphere against which celestial bodies appear to be projected zodiac - a belt-shaped region in the heavens on either side to the ecliptic; divided into 12 constellations or signs for astrological purposes

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sphere

noun

1. ball, globe, orb, globule, circle The cactus will form a large sphere crested with golden thorns.

2. field, range, area, department, function, territory, capacity, province, patch, scope, turf (U.S. slang), realm, domain, compass, walk of life the sphere of international politics

3. rank, class, station, status, stratum life outside academic spheres of society

sphere of influence area, range, scope, field, extent, orbit, jurisdiction, compass, remit the British or American spheres of influence

Translations

sphere [sfɪəʳ] N

1. (Astron, Math etc) → esfera f

2. (fig) → esfera f
in the social sphere → en la esfera social
sphere of influence → esfera f de influencia
sphere of activity → campo m de actividad, esfera f de actividad
his sphere of interest → el ámbito de sus intereses
in the sphere of politics → en el mundo de la política
that's outside my sphere → eso no es de mi competencia

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sphere [ˈsfɪə^r] n

(= round object) → sphère f

[activity] → domaine m
sphere of interest → centre m d'intérêt
sphere of influence → sphère f d'influence

[society] → milieu m
the influential people in her sphere → les personnes influentes de son milieu

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sphere

n

→ Kugel f; (= heavenly sphere) → Gestirn nt (geh); (old Astron) → Sphäre f (old); the celestial sphere (poet) → das Himmelszelt (poet); to be a sphere → kugelförmig sein

(fig) → Sphäre f, → Welt f; (of person, personal experience) → Bereich m; (of knowledge etc) → Gebiet nt, → Feld nt; (= social etc circle) → Kreis m; in the sphere of politics → in der Welt der Politik; his sphere of interest/influence → sein Interessen-/Einflussbereich; sphere of activity (= job, specialism) → Wirkungskreis m; that’s outside my sphere → das geht über meinen Horizont; (= not my responsibility) → das ist nicht mein Gebiet

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sphere [sfɪəʳ] n (gen) → sfera
his sphere of interest → la sua sfera d'interessi
his sphere of activity → il suo campo di attività
within a limited sphere → in un ambito molto ristretto
sphere of influence → sfera d'influenza
that's outside my sphere → non rientra nelle mie competenze

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sphere

n sphere [sfiə]

a solid object with a surface on which all points are an equal distance from the centre, like eg most types of ball. sfeer جِسْم كروي сфера koule kugle die Kugel σφαίρα esfera kera كره pallo sphère כַּדוּר गोला kugla, lopta gömb bulatan hnöttur sfera 球 구 rutulys sfēra; lode; bumba sfera bol kule, klode kula esfera sferă сфера; шар guľa krogla sfera sfär, klot รูปทรงกลม küre 球(體) сфера; куля کرہ، گولا hình cầu, quả cầu 球（体）

adj spherical [ˈsferikəl]

completely round, like a ball It is now known that the world is not flat, but spherical; a spherical object. sferies كُرَوي сферичен kulový kuglerund kugelförmig σφαιρικός esférico kerakujuline كروي pallomainen sphérique כַּדוּרִי गोलाकार okrugao, obao gömbölyű bulat hnöttóttur sferico 球形の 구형의 rutulio pavidalo sfērisks; lodveidīgs berbentuk sfera bolvormig krum, rund kulisty esférico sferic сферический; шарообразный guľový okrogel sferični sfärisk, klotformig กลม küresel 球形的 сферичний, кулястий کروی شکل کا، گنبد نما thuộc hình cầu 球形的