sphere
/sfiə/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A perfectly round three-dimensional geometric object: A solid figure where every point on its surface is at an equal distance (the radius) from a fixed central point.
- An area of activity, influence, or interest: A particular domain, field, or social environment in which a person operates or which is characterized by a specific type of activity.
- A celestial body or the heavens: The sky or heavens, often imagined as a vast, hollow globe; also used poetically for a planet or star.
- A spherical object or artifact: Any object that has a roughly ball-like shape.
Usage
- Geometric/Object Sense: Used to describe a perfectly round 3D shape or a physical object resembling this shape.
- Domain/Influence Sense: Used to describe abstract realms of knowledge, authority, or social activity. Often appears with possessive adjectives (e.g., , ) or prepositions like and .
- Celestial Sense: Used in literary, historical, or astronomical contexts to refer to the sky or a celestial body.
Examples
- Geometric/Object Sense:
- The glass sphere reflected the light beautifully.
- In geometry, a sphere is defined by its center and radius.
- Domain/Influence Sense:
- Her main sphere of influence is within the finance department.
- Questions of morality fall outside the sphere of scientific inquiry.
- He moves in very different social spheres.
- Celestial Sense:
- Ancient astronomers believed the stars were fixed upon a crystalline sphere.
- (Poetic) The moon is a silvery sphere in the night sky.
Advanced Usage
- Sphere of influence: A territorial area over which a state or organization has significant cultural, economic, military, or political influence.
- The country was considered to be within the rival empire's sphere of influence.
- Public/private sphere: A sociological concept distinguishing between the realm of public, political life and the realm of private, domestic life.
- The issue moved from the private sphere into the public debate.
Variants and Related Words
- Spherical (adj): Having the shape of a sphere; round.
- The planet is nearly spherical.
- Hemisphere (n): Half of a sphere, especially half of the earth.
- The Northern Hemisphere experiences summer in June.
- Biosphere (n): The regions of the earth occupied by living organisms.
- Atmosphere (n): The envelope of gases surrounding a planet; also, the mood or feeling of a place.
Synonyms
- Orbit: Range or sphere of activity or influence. (e.g., )
- Domain: A specified sphere of activity or knowledge.
- Realm: A kingdom; or a field or domain of activity or interest.
- Globe: A spherical representation of the earth; or any spherical object.
- Ball: A solid or hollow spherical object used in games; a simpler, more common term for a round object.
Idioms and Phrases
- In someone's sphere: Within the scope of someone's knowledge, influence, or social circle.
- As a botanist, animal behavior is not really in my sphere.
- Move in different spheres: To belong to or operate within different social or professional groups.
- Since university, they have moved in completely different spheres.
Noun
- the apparent surface of the imaginary sphere on which celestial bodies appear to be projected
- a three-dimensional closed surface such that every point on the surface is equidistant from the center
- a solid figure bounded by a spherical surface (including the space it encloses)
- a particular aspect of life or activity
- he was helpless in an important sector of his life
- the geographical area in which one nation is very influential
- any spherically shaped artifact
- 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