释义 |
orb I. \ˈȯ(ə)rb, ˈȯ(ə)b\ noun (-s) Etymology: Anglo-French orbe, from Old French orbe blind, without light, from Latin orbus orphaned, bereft, blind — more at orphan : a detail in medieval architecture of uncertain character but prob. a recessed panel surrounded by moldings (as one member of a blind arcade or one of the spaces between the ribs of a Gothic vault) II. noun (-s) Etymology: Middle French orbe, from Latin orbis circle, disk, orb; akin to Latin orbita track, rut 1. a. : any of the azure transparent spheres in old astronomy surrounding the earth one within the other and carrying the heavenly bodies in their revolutions b. (1) : a globular celestial object (as the sun or moon, a planet or star) < the celestial orbs revolve with uniform circular movements — G.C.Sellery > (2) : earth < solid, ironical, rolling orb — Walt Whitman > c. (1) : a spherical body : something of globular shape : globe < skewering the smaller orbs where they cowered amid their leaves — A.B.Mayse > (2) : eye < her sightless orbs — Arnold Bennett > (3) : a sphere surmounted by a cross symbolizing kingly power and justice and forming part of the English regalia (4) : a similar sphere on top of a scepter or crown d. archaic (1) : a collective whole : world (2) : a sphere of action : station < in our orbs we'll live so round and safe — Shakespeare > 2. a. : something circular (as a disk, wheel, ring) : circle < the wheeling orb of change — Alfred Tennyson > b. (1) obsolete : a period of time marked off by the revolution of a heavenly body (2) archaic : the orbit or the plane of the orbit of a planet or other heavenly body III. verb (-ed/-ing/-s) transitive verb 1. : to form into a disk or circle : round out 2. archaic : encircle, surround, enclose intransitive verb : to move in an orbit |