SPHERE, n. [L. sphera.]

1. In geometry, a solid body contained under a single surface, which in every part is equally distant from a point called its center. The earth is not an exact sphere. The sun appears to be a sphere.
2. An orb or globe of the mundane system. First the sun, a mighty sphere, he fram'd. – Milton. Then mortal ears / Had heard the music of the spheres. – Dryden.
3. An orbicular body, or a circular figure representing the earth or apparent heavens. – Dryden.
4. Circuit of motion; revolution; orbit; as, the diurnal sphere. – Milton.
5. The concave or vast orbicular expanse in which the heavenly orbs appear.
6. Circuit of action, knowledge or influence; compass; province; employment. Every man has his particular sphere of action, in which it should be his ambition to excel. Events of this kind have repeatedly fallen within the sphere of my knowledge. This man treats of matters not within his sphere.
7. Rank; order of society. Persons moving in a higher sphere claim more deference. Sphere of activity of a body, the whole space or extent reached by the effluvia emitted from it. – Encyc. A right sphere, that aspect of the heavens in which the circles of daily motion of the heavenly bodies, arc perpendicular to the horizon. A spectator at the equator views a right sphere. A parallel sphere, that in which the circles of daily motion are parallel to the horizon. A spectator at either of the poles, would view a parallel sphere. An oblique sphere, that in which the circles of daily motion are oblique to the horizon, as is the case to a spectator at any point between the equator and either pole. Armillary sphere, an artificial representation of the circles of the sphere, by means of brass rings.

1. To place in a sphere. The glorious planet Sol / In noble eminence enthron'd, and spher'd / Amidst the rest. [Unusual.] – Shak.
2. To form into roundness; as, light sphered in a radiant cloud. – Milton.

1. A body or space contained under a single surface, which in every part is equally distant from a point within called its center.
2. To place in a sphere, or among the spheres] to insphere.
   
   

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

3. Hence, any globe or globular body, especially a celestial one, as the sun, a planet, or the earth.
   
   

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

4. To form into roundness; to make spherical, or spheral; to perfect.
   
   
   Tennyson.
5. The apparent surface of the heavens, which is assumed to be spherical and everywhere equally distant, in which the heavenly bodies appear to have their places, and on which the various astronomical circles, as of right ascension and declination, the equator, ecliptic, etc., are conceived to be drawn; an ideal geometrical sphere, with the astronomical and geographical circles in their proper positions on it.
   
   
   (b)
6. The extension of a general conception, or the totality of the individuals or species to which it may be applied.
7. Circuit or range of action, knowledge, or influence; compass; province; employment; place of existence.
   
   

   To be called into a huge sphere, and not to be seen to move in 't. Shak.

   Taking her out of the ordinary relations with humanity, and inclosing her in a sphere by herself. Hawthorne.

   Each in his hidden sphere of joy or woe
   Our hermit spirits dwell. Keble.

8. Rank; order of society; social positions.
9. An orbit, as of a star; a socket.
   
   
   [R.] Shak.

   Armillary sphere, Crystalline sphere, Oblique sphere,. See under Armillary, Crystalline,. -- Doctrine of the sphere, applications of the principles of spherical trigonometry to the properties and relations of the circles of the sphere, and the problems connected with them, in astronomy and geography, as to the latitudes and longitudes, distance and bearing, of places on the earth, and the right ascension and declination, altitude and azimuth, rising and setting, etc., of the heavenly bodies; spherical geometry. -- Music of the spheres. See under Music.

   Syn. -- Globe; orb; circle. See Globe.