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noun

Orb n. (Arch.) A blank window or panel. (Obs.)

Orb n.

1.

A spherical body; a globe; especially, one of the celestial spheres; a sun, planet, or star. "In the small orb of one particular tear." "Whether the prime orb, Incredible how swift, had thither rolled."

2.

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.

A circle; esp., a circle, or nearly circular orbit, described by the revolution of a heavenly body; an orbit. "The schoolmen were like astronomers, which did feign eccentrics, and epicycles, and such engines of orbs." "You seem to me as Dian in her orb." "In orbs Of circuit inexpressible they stood, Orb within orb."

4.

A period of time marked off by the revolution of a heavenly body. (R.)

5.

The eye, as luminous and spherical. (Poetic) "A drop serene hath quenched their orbs."

6.

A revolving circular body; a wheel. (Poetic) "The orbs Of his fierce chariot rolled."

7.

A sphere of action or influence. "But in our orbs we'll live so round and safe."

8.

Same as Mound, a ball or globe. See 1st Mound.

9.

(Mil.) A body of soldiers drawn up in a circle, as for defense, esp. infantry to repel cavalry.

Synonyms: Globe; ball; sphere. See Globe.

verb

Orb v. t. (past & past part. orbed; pres. part. orbing)

1.

To form into an orb or circle. (Poetic)

2.

To encircle; to surround; to inclose. (Poetic) "The wheels were orbed with gold."

Orb v. i. To become round like an orb. (Poetic) "And orb into the perfect star."

See images of 'Orb'

Etymology of 'Orb'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Orb" Quotes from Famous Books

... the Church. The amount of our religious knowledge does not depend on our proximity to the days of primitive Christianity. The Bible is the sun of the spiritual firmament; and this divine illuminator, like the glorious orb of day, pours forth its light with equal brilliancy from generation to generation. The Church may retire into "chambers of imagery" erected by her own folly; and there, with the light shut out from her, may sink ...

— The Ancient Church - Its History, Doctrine, Worship, and Constitution • W.D. [William Dool] Killen

... and water appeared a thin line of silver. It thickened, rounded, became a glorious orb. The marshes blanched from black to gray, and across the water, from the dim land to the great silver globe, stretched ...

— Prisoners of Hope - A Tale of Colonial Virginia • Mary Johnston

... their efforts, the sun, as he rose above the horizon, seemed to smile upon them and hush the storm into silence. The wind, that throughout the night had been whistling in their ears, all at once fell to a calm, as if commanded by the majestic orb of day; and along with the wind went down the waves, the latter subsiding more gradually. It was easier now to hold the pinnace in place, as also to row her in a direction parallel to the line of the breakers; and, after coasting for about a mile, an opening was at length observed where the ...

— The Castaways • Captain Mayne Reid

... heaven and every orb doth move Formed me for His delight Fair, debonair and gracious, apt for love; That here on earth each soaring spirit might Have foretaste how, above, That beauty shews that standeth in His sight. Ah! but dull wit ...

— The Decameron, Volume I • Giovanni Boccaccio

... burning in the roseate sky of evening Where grand in dying glory sinks the god of day to rest And wide o'er the dewy meadows lie the golden lights and shadows, Like gleams that come to cheer us from the regions the blest! Slow the fiery orb is sinking down below the purple mountains; Still the splendour of his radiance lingers round us for a while; And the peaceful country bowers, and the stately run towers, Are rejoicing in the beauty of ...

— Lays from the West • M. A. Nicholl

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