I. ˈȯ(ə)rb, ˈȯ(ə)b noun
( -s )
Etymology: Anglo-French orbe, from Old French orbe blind, without light, from Latin orbus orphaned, bereft, blind — more at orphan
: a detail in medieval architecture of uncertain character but prob. a recessed panel surrounded by moldings (as one member of a blind arcade or one of the spaces between the ribs of a Gothic vault)
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle French orbe, from Latin orbis circle, disk, orb; akin to Latin orbita track, rut
1.
a. : any of the azure transparent spheres in old astronomy surrounding the earth one within the other and carrying the heavenly bodies in their revolutions
b.
(1) : a globular celestial object (as the sun or moon, a planet or star)
the celestial orbs revolve with uniform circular movements — G.C.Sellery
(2) : earth
solid, ironical, rolling orb — Walt Whitman
c.
(1) : a spherical body : something of globular shape : globe
skewering the smaller orbs where they cowered amid their leaves — A.B.Mayse
(2) : eye
her sightless orbs — Arnold Bennett
(3) : a sphere surmounted by a cross symbolizing kingly power and justice and forming part of the English regalia
(4) : a similar sphere on top of a scepter or crown
d. archaic
(1) : a collective whole : world
(2) : a sphere of action : station
in our orbs we'll live so round and safe — Shakespeare
2.
a. : something circular (as a disk, wheel, ring) : circle
the wheeling orb of change — Alfred Tennyson
b.
(1) obsolete : a period of time marked off by the revolution of a heavenly body
(2) archaic : the orbit or the plane of the orbit of a planet or other heavenly body
III. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
transitive verb
1. : to form into a disk or circle : round out
2. archaic : encircle , surround , enclose
intransitive verb
: to move in an orbit