Orb Meaning
/ɔɹb/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA spherical body; a sphere, especially one of the celestial spheres; a sun, planet, or star
nounCelestial sphere; one of the azure transparent spheres conceived by the ancients to be enclosed one within another, and to carry the heavenly bodies in their revolutions
Sentence Examples
I saw an orb hovering over the lake.
Orbán and Trump are trying to form a new Axis.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The glowing ____ of the full moon lit up the night sky.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The wizard held a glowing ____ in his hand that pulsed with a soft blue light.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English orbe, from Old French orbe, from Latin orbis (“circle, orb”). Compare orbit.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"In the small orb of one particular tear."
— c. 1607–1608 (date written), William Shakespeare, [George Wilkins?], The Late, and Much Admired Play, Called Pericles, Prince of Tyre. […], London: […] [William White and Thomas Creede] for Henry Gosson, […], published 1609, →OCLC, [Act LOVER'S COMPLAINT]:
"Whether the prime orb, Incredible how swift, had thither rolled."
— 1667, John Milton, “Book IV”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
"The schoolmen were like astronomers, which did feign eccentrics, and epicycles, and such engines of orbs."
— 1625, Francis [Bacon], “Of Superstition”, in The Essayes […], 3rd edition, London: […] Iohn Haviland for Hanna Barret, →OCLC:
"You seem to me as Dian in her orb."
— 1598–1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “Much Adoe about Nothing”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i]:
"In orbs / Of circuit inexpressible they stood, / Orb within orb."
— 1667, John Milton, “Book V”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The glowing ____ of the full moon lit up the night sky.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The wizard held a glowing ____ in his hand that pulsed with a soft blue light.