sphère

See also: sphere, -sphere, and -sphère

French

Alternative forms

• sphære (archaic)

Etymology

From Late Latin sphēra, from Latin sphaera (“ball, globe, celestial sphere”), from Ancient Greek σφαῖρα (sphaîra, “ball, globe”). Replaced Old French espere, from the same Latin source.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /sfɛʁ/

• audio

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɛʁ

Noun

sphère f (plural sphères)

1. (geometry) sphere
2. (figuratively) sphere, area

Derived terms

• hautes sphères
• sphère armillaire
• sphère d’influence
• sphérique

 

Further reading

• “sphère”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.