Orb vs. Sphere — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 27, 2023
An orb often implies a spherical object with symbolic significance, while a sphere is a geometric shape, perfectly round in 3D space.
Difference Between Orb and Sphere
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
An orb is frequently associated with a spherical object that carries symbolic, ceremonial, or celestial significance. It's often mentioned in historical, mystical, or religious contexts. A sphere, however, is a mathematical or scientific term, strictly defining a three-dimensional shape that is perfectly round, with all points on its surface equidistant from its center.
Orbs are commonly found in royal regalia, representing power or the universe, and in art or literature symbolizing planets or celestial bodies. Spheres, on the other hand, are often discussed in physics, mathematics, or astronomy, as they represent the idealized shape of planets or other celestial bodies.
While an orb may be ornamental, adorned, or imbued with specific meanings, a sphere is neutral, simply denoting the shape itself. Orbs can be practical objects, like a crystal ball, whereas spheres are more likely to be theoretical constructs, used in scientific modeling or geometry.
In everyday language, "orb" may imply something more grandiose or significant, possibly with a glow or aura, whereas "sphere" is more likely to be used in a technical or descriptive sense, focusing on the object’s geometry.
Finally, the word "orb" can also be used as a verb, meaning to encircle or to form into a sphere. The term "sphere" does not share this linguistic flexibility and is predominantly used as a noun.
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Comparison Chart
Symbolism
Often symbolic or ceremonial
Lacks symbolic connotation
Usage
Historical, mystical, decorative
Scientific, mathematical, practical
Implication
Grandeur, significance
Neutrality, geometric precision
Contexts
Royal regalia, art, literature
Physics, astronomy, geometry
Linguistic Flexibility
Can be used as a verb ("to orb")
Primarily a noun
Compare with Definitions
Orb
Symbolic Object
The king held an orb, a symbol of his power.
Sphere
Geometric Shape
A basketball is an example of a sphere.
Orb
Glowing Object
An orb of light appeared in the dark room.
Sphere
Social Domain
They moved in different social spheres.
Orb
Eye
His cat's orbs were strikingly blue.
Sphere
A sphere (from Greek σφαῖρα—sphaira, "globe, ball") is a geometrical object in three-dimensional space that is the surface of a ball (viz., analogous to the circular objects in two dimensions, where a "circle" circumscribes its "disk"). Like a circle in a two-dimensional space, a sphere is defined mathematically as the set of points that are all at the same distance r from a given point in a three-dimensional space.
Orb
A sphere or spherical object.
Sphere
A round solid figure, or its surface, with every point on its surface equidistant from its centre.
Orb
A celestial body, such as the sun or moon.
Sphere
An area of activity, interest, or expertise; a section of society or an aspect of life distinguished and unified by a particular characteristic
Political reforms to match those in the economic sphere
Orb
(Archaic) The earth.
Sphere
Enclose in or as if in a sphere
Mourners, sphered by their dark garb
Orb
One of a series of concentric transparent spheres thought by ancient and medieval astronomers to rotate about the earth and carry the celestial bodies.
Sphere
(Mathematics) A three-dimensional surface, all points of which are equidistant from a fixed point.
Orb
A globe surmounted by a cross, used as a symbol of monarchial power and justice.
Sphere
A spherical object or figure.
Orb
An eye or eyeball.
Sphere
A celestial body, such as a planet or star.
Orb
(Archaic) Something of circular form; a circle or orbit.
Sphere
The sky, appearing as a hemisphere to an observer
The sphere of the heavens.
Orb
To shape into a circle or sphere.
Sphere
Any of a series of concentric, transparent, revolving globes that together were once thought to contain the moon, sun, planets, and stars.
Orb
(Archaic) To encircle; enclose.
Sphere
A range or extent of knowledge, interest, or activity
A problem that falls within the sphere of biophysics.
Orb
To move in an orbit.
Sphere
A social level or part of society or group
Knew few people beyond his partner's sphere.
Orb
A spherical body; a sphere, especially one of the celestial spheres; a sun, planet, or star
Sphere
A range of power or influence
Within the sphere of the empire.
Orb
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
Sphere
To form into a sphere.
Orb
(architectural element) A structural motif or finial in the shape of a sphere
Sphere
To put in or within a sphere.
Orb
An orbit of an heavenly body
Sphere
(mathematics) A regular three-dimensional object in which every cross-section is a circle; the figure described by the revolution of a circle about its diameter . Category:en:Surfaces
Orb
(rare) The time period of an orbit
Sphere
A spherical physical object; a globe or ball.
Orb
(poetic) The eye, seen as a luminous and spherical entity
Sphere
The apparent outer limit of space; the edge of the heavens, imagined as a hollow globe within which celestial bodies appear to be embedded.
Orb
(poetic) Any revolving circular body, such as a wheel
Sphere
Any of the concentric hollow transparent globes formerly believed to rotate around the Earth, and which carried the heavenly bodies; there were originally believed to be eight, and later nine and ten; friction between them was thought to cause a harmonious sound (the music of the spheres).
Orb
(rare) A sphere of action.
Sphere
(mythology) An area of activity for a planet; or by extension, an area of influence for a god, hero etc.
Orb
A globus cruciger; a ceremonial sphere used to represent royal or imperial power
Sphere
(figuratively) The region in which something or someone is active; one's province, domain.
Orb
A translucent sphere appearing in flash photography (Orb (optics))
Sphere
(geometry) The set of all points in three-dimensional Euclidean space (or n-dimensional space, in topology) that are a fixed distance from a fixed point .
Orb
(military) A body of soldiers drawn up in a circle, as for defence, especially infantry to repel cavalry.
Sphere
(logic) The extension of a general conception, or the totality of the individuals or species to which it may be applied.
Orb
(architecture) A blank window or panel.
Sphere
(transitive) To place in a sphere, or among the spheres; to ensphere.
Orb
To form into an orb or circle.
Sphere
(transitive) To make round or spherical; to perfect.
Orb
To become round like an orb.
Sphere
A body or space contained under a single surface, which in every part is equally distant from a point within called its center.
Orb
To encircle; to surround; to enclose.
Sphere
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.
Orb
A blank window or panel.
Sphere
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.
Orb
A spherical body; a globe; especially, one of the celestial spheres; a sun, planet, or star.
In the small orb of one particular tear.
Whether the prime orb,Incredible how swift, had thither rolled.
Sphere
The extension of a general conception, or the totality of the individuals or species to which it may be applied.
Orb
One of the azure transparent spheres conceived by the ancients to be inclosed one within another, and to carry the heavenly bodies in their revolutions.
Sphere
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.
Taking her out of the ordinary relations with humanity, and inclosing her in a sphere by herself.
Each in his hidden sphere of joy or woeOur hermit spirits dwell.
Orb
A circle; esp., a circle, or nearly circular orbit, described by the revolution of a heavenly body; an orbit.
The schoolmen were like astronomers, which did feign eccentrics, and epicycles, and such engines of orbs.
You seem to me as Dian in her orb.
In orbsOf circuit inexpressible they stood,Orb within orb.
Sphere
Rank; order of society; social positions.
Orb
A period of time marked off by the revolution of a heavenly body.
Sphere
An orbit, as of a star; a socket.
Orb
The eye, as luminous and spherical.
A drop serene hath quenched their orbs.
Sphere
To place in a sphere, or among the spheres; to insphere.
The glorious planet SolIn noble eminence enthroned and spheredAmidst the other.
Orb
A revolving circular body; a wheel.
The orbsOf his fierce chariot rolled.
Sphere
To form into roundness; to make spherical, or spheral; to perfect.
Orb
A sphere of action or influence.
But in our orbs we'll live so round and safe.
Sphere
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
Orb
Same as Mound, a ball or globe. See 1st Mound.
Sphere
Any spherically shaped artifact
Orb
A body of soldiers drawn up in a circle, as for defense, esp. infantry to repel cavalry.
Sphere
The geographical area in which one nation is very influential
Orb
To form into an orb or circle.
Sphere
A particular aspect of life or activity;
He was helpless in an important sector of his life
Orb
To encircle; to surround; to inclose.
The wheels were orbed with gold.
Sphere
A solid figure bounded by a spherical surface (including the space it encloses)
Orb
To become round like an orb.
And orb into the perfect star.
Sphere
A three-dimensional closed surface such that every point on the surface is equidistant from the center
Orb
The ball-shaped capsule containing the vertebrate eye
Sphere
The apparent surface of the imaginary sphere on which celestial bodies appear to be projected
Orb
An object with a spherical shape;
A ball of fire
Sphere
Field of Influence
Her sphere of influence extends across many countries.
Orb
Celestial Body
The moon, an orb of the night sky, shone brightly.
Sphere
Astronomical Body
The Earth is a sphere orbiting the sun.
Orb
Circular Item
She gazed into the crystal orb.
Sphere
Area of Interest
His sphere of expertise is mathematics.
Common Curiosities
Is a sphere always a physical object?
No, it can also refer to theoretical shapes in geometry or areas of influence.
What is an orb?
An orb is often a spherical object with symbolic, ceremonial, or mystical significance.
Can an orb be a sphere?
Yes, an orb is typically spherical in shape but carries additional symbolic meanings.
Is a sphere considered symbolic?
Not usually; it's more of a neutral, geometric term.
Do orbs have to be perfectly round?
Not necessarily; they can be slightly imperfect but are generally spherical.
Do orbs have specific uses?
Yes, they're often used in ceremonial contexts, art, and symbolism.
Is the sphere a common shape in nature?
Yes, many celestial bodies and some fruits are spherical.
Are spheres used in mathematics?
Yes, spheres are fundamental shapes studied in geometry.
What is a sphere?
A sphere is a three-dimensional shape, perfectly round with all points on its surface equidistant from its center.
Can the word "orb" be used as a verb?
Yes, "to orb" means to form into a sphere or circle.
Can the term "sphere" refer to areas beyond physical shapes?
Yes, it can also refer to fields of influence or interest.
Are orbs and spheres interchangeable in language?
Not always, as "orb" often implies additional significance beyond just shape.
Can an orb be a tool?
Yes, like crystal balls used for divination.
Are orbs common in literature?
Yes, they often appear in fantasy, mythology, and religious texts.
Does the sphere have a symbolic role in science?
It's used more for its geometric properties than for symbolism.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
