◙ noun 1. a round solid figure, or its surface, with every point on its surface equidistant from its center • 圆形实心体，球体；球面 an object having this shape; a ball or globe • 球体物；球；地球 a globe representing the earth • 地球仪 (chiefly poetic/literary)a celestial body • [主诗/文] 天体 (poetic/literary)the sky perceived as a vault upon or in which celestial bodies are represented as lying • [诗/文] 苍穹，天，天空 each of a series of revolving concentrically arranged spherical shells in which celestial bodies were formerly thought to be set in a fixed relationship • 天体外壳（指一系列旋转着的同心圆球形壳体之一，旧时认为各天体以某种固定的相互关系存在于其中） 2. an area of activity, interest, or expertise; a section of society or an aspect of life distinguished and unified by a particular characteristic • （活动、兴趣、专业知识的）范围，领域；社会阶层 »political reforms to match those in the economic sphere. 与经济领域的改革相称的政治改革。 ◙ verb 1. [with obj.] (archaic)enclose in or as if in a sphere • [古] 将…封入球体中 form into a rounded or perfect whole • 形成球体；形成完美的整体
【IDIOMS】
◘ music [或harmony] of the spheres 1. the natural harmonic tones supposedly produced by the movement of the celestial spheres or the bodies fixed in them • 天体音乐（想象中天球运行时所产生的自然音乐） ◘ sphere of influence [或interest] 1. a country or area in which another country has power to affect developments though it has no formal authority • 势力范围，利益范围 a field or area in which an individual or organization has power to affect events and developments • 个人或组织能对之施加重大影响的领域（或范围）
【派生】
♦ spheral adjective 1. (archaic 古).)
【语源】
1. Middle English: from Old French espere, from late Latin sphera, earlier sphaera, from Greek sphaira 'ball'