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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