n. & v.
n. 1 a solid figure, or its surface, with every point on its surface equidistant from its centre. 2 an object having this shape; a ball or globe. 3 a any celestial body. b a globe representing the earth. c poet. the heavens; the sky. d the sky perceived as a vault upon or in which celestial bodies are represented as lying. e hist. each of a series of revolving concentrically arranged spherical shells in which celestial bodies were formerly thought to be set in a fixed relationship. 4 a a field of action, influence, or existence (have done much within their own sphere). b a (usu. specified) stratum of society or social class (moves in quite another sphere).
v.tr. archaic or poet. 1 enclose in or as in a sphere. 2 form into a sphere. music (or harmony) of the spheres the natural harmonic tones supposedly produced by the movement of the celestial spheres (see sense 3e of n.) or the bodies fixed in them. oblique (or parallel or right) sphere the sphere of the apparent heavens at a place where there is an oblique, zero, or right angle between the equator and the horizon. sphere of influence the claimed or recognized area of a State's interests, an individual's control, etc. spheral adj.
[ ME sper(e) f. OF espere f. LL sphera, L f. Gk sphaira ball ]