hemisphere
From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
See also: hémisphère
Alternative forms
- hemisphære (archaic)
Etymology
From Latin hemisphaerium, from Ancient Greek ἡμισφαίριον (hēmisphaírion), from ἡμι- (hēmi-, “half”) + σφαῖρα (sphaîra, “sphere”). Equivalent to hemi- + sphere. Displaced native Old English healftrendel (literally “half-sphere”).
Pronunciation
Noun
hemisphere (plural hemispheres)
- (astronomy, astrology) Half of the celestial sphere, as divided by either the ecliptic or the celestial equator [from 14th c.].
- (figuratively) A realm or domain of activity [1503].
- 1831, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], Romance and Reality. […], volume III, London: Henry Colburn and Richard Bentley, […], →OCLC, pages 91–92:
- Love is the Columbus of our moral world, and opens, at some period or other, a new hemisphere to our view.
- (geography) Half of the Earth, such as the Northern Hemisphere, Southern Hemisphere, Western Hemisphere or Eastern Hemisphere, Land Hemisphere, Water Hemisphere etc. [1550s].
- (geometry) Any half-sphere, formed by a plane intersecting the center of a sphere. [1580s].
- (cartography) A map or projection of a celestial or terrestrial hemisphere [1706].
- (anatomy) Either of the two halves of the cerebrum. [1804].
Synonyms
- (astronomy: half of the celestial sphere): celestial hemisphere
- (geography: half of the terrestrial sphere): terrestrial hemisphere
- (figuratively: a domain of thought or action): sphere
- (geometry: half of a sphere): half-sphere, half sphere
- (anatomy: either of the two lobes of the cerebellum): cerebral hemisphere
- (cartography: a map showing a projection of a hemisphere): planisphere
Derived terms
- Eastern Hemisphere
- eastern hemisphere
- Hemisphere
- Hemispherian
- hemispherian
- Hemispheric
- hemispheric
- hemispherical
- hemispherically
- hemispheroid
- hemispheroidal
- hemispheroidally
- Land Hemisphere
- Magdeburg hemisphere
- northern hemisphere
- Northern Hemisphere
- southern hemisphere
- Southern Hemisphere
- Water Hemisphere
- Western Hemisphere
- western hemisphere
Related terms
Translations
half of the celestial sphere
|
realm or domain of activity
|
half of the Earth
|
any half-sphere
|
cartography: map or projection of a celestial or terrestrial hemisphere
|
lobe of cerebrum — see cerebral hemisphere
- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
See also
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