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-sphere

A broadly spherical object or region.

English sphere, derived from Greek sphaira, ball.

The larger proportion of common words in ‑sphere refer to the Earth, such as atmosphere or biosphere. Several refer to regions of a star, such as photosphere. Others are general terms relating to a spherical object or region: hemisphere. For more details and additional examples, Adjectives are formed either in ‑speric (atmospheric, ionospheric), or less commonly in ‑spherical (hemispherical).

Examples of words in -sphere
Word origins are from Greek unless otherwise stated.

atmosphere

the envelope of gases surrounding the earth or another planet

atmos, vapour

biosphere

the regions of the surface and atmosphere of the earth or another planet occupied by living organisms

bios, life

hemisphere

a half of a sphere

hēmi‑, half

ionosphere

the layer of the earth's atmosphere which contains a high concentration of ions and free electrons and is able to reflect radio waves

English ion

lithosphere

the rigid outer part of the earth, consisting of the crust and upper mantle

lithos, stone

magnetosphere

the region surrounding the earth or another astronomical body in which its magnetic field is the predominant effective magnetic field

English magnet

photosphere

the luminous envelope of a star from which its light and heat radiate

phōs, phōt‑, light

stratosphere

the layer of the earth's atmosphere above the troposphere, extending to about 50 km above the earth's surface

Latin stratus, strewn

troposphere

the lowest region of the atmosphere, extending from the earth's surface to a height of about 6-10 km

tropos, turning

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