orb

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. A sphere or spherical object.
2. n. A celestial body, such as the sun or moon.
3. n. Archaic The earth.
4. n. One of a series of concentric transparent spheres thought by ancient and medieval astronomers to revolve about the earth and carry the celestial bodies.
5. n. A globe surmounted by a cross, used as a symbol of monarchial power and justice.
6. n. An eye or eyeball.
7. n. Archaic Something of circular form; a circle or an orbit.
8. n. Archaic A range of endeavor or activity; a province.
9. v. To shape into a circle or sphere.
10. v. Archaic To encircle; enclose.
11. v. Archaic To move in an orbit.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. A circle; a circular surface, track, path, or course; an orbit; a ring; also, that which is circular, as a shield: as, the orb of the moon.
2. n. A sphere or spheroidal body; a globe; a ball.
3. n. Hence The earth or one of the heavenly bodies; in particular, the sun or the moon.
4. n. The eye; an eyeball: so called from its spheroidal shape, and the comparison between its luminous brilliancy and that of the stars.
5. n. A hollow globe; specifically, in ancient astronomy, a hollow globe or sphere supposed to form part of the solar or sidereal system. The ancient astronomers supposed the heavens to consist of such orbs or spheres inclosing one another, being concentric, and carrying with them in their revolutions the planets. That in which the sun was supposed to be placed was called the orbis maximus, or chief orb.
6. n. The globe forming part of royal regalia; the monde or mound. As a symbol of sovereignty it is of ancient Roman origin, appearing in a Pompeiian wall-painting representing Jupiter enthroned, and also in sculpture.
7. n. In astrology, the space within which the astrological influence of a planet or of a house is supposed to act. The orbs of the cusps of the houses are 5 degrees; those of the different planets vary from 7 degrees to 15 degrees.
8. n. In architecture, a plain circular boss. See boss, 5. Synonyms Sphere, etc. See globe.
9. To inclose as in an orb; encircle; surround; shut up.
10. To move as in a circle; roll as an orb: used reflexively.
11. To form into a circle or sphere; make an orb.
12. To become an orb or like an orb; assume the shape, appearance, or qualities of a circle or sphere; fill out the space of a circle or sphere; round itself out.
13. Bereaved, especially of children.
14. n. A blank window or panel.

Wiktionary

1. n. A spherical body; a globe; especially, one of the celestial spheres; a sun, planet, or star
2. n. 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
3. n. A circle; especially, a circle, or nearly circular orbit, described by the revolution of a heavenly body; an orbit
4. n. rare A period of time marked off by the revolution of a heavenly body. --John Milton
5. n. poetic The eye, as luminous and spherical
6. n. poetic A revolving circular body; a wheel
7. n. rare A sphere of action. --William Wordsworth
8. n. A globus cruciger
9. n. A translucent sphere appearing in flash photography
10. v. poetic to form into an orb or circle
11. v. poetic (transitive) to encircle; to surround; to inclose
12. v. poetic (intransitive) to become round like an orb

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. (Arch.), obsolete A blank window or panel.
2. n. A spherical body; a globe; especially, one of the celestial spheres; a sun, planet, or star.
3. n. 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.
4. n. A circle; esp., a circle, or nearly circular orbit, described by the revolution of a heavenly body; an orbit.
5. n. rare A period of time marked off by the revolution of a heavenly body.
6. n. Poetic The eye, as luminous and spherical.
7. n. Poetic A revolving circular body; a wheel.
8. n. A sphere of action or influence.
9. n. Same as Mound, a ball or globe. See 1st Mound.
10. n. (Mil.) A body of soldiers drawn up in a circle, as for defense, esp. infantry to repel cavalry.
11. v. Poetic To form into an orb or circle.
12. v. Poetic To encircle; to surround; to inclose.
13. v. Poetic To become round like an orb.

WordNet 3.0

1. v. move in an orbit
2. n. an object with a spherical shape
3. n. the ball-shaped capsule containing the vertebrate eye