orb
/ɔːb/ (bre, ipa) · /ɔːrb/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈȯrb/ (ame, mw)
orb — noun
- orbsingular
- orbsplural
1. any solid round object, especially when it looks glowing or majestic, such as th
any solid round object, especially when it looks glowing or majestic, such as the sun, the moon, or a person's eye in literary writing.
Through the telescope, Kabir watched the orange orb of the setting sun sink into the sea.
the orb of the sun/moon — literary fixed phrase
A pale orb hung above the temple roof on the night of the full moon.
literary register: 'a pale/silver orb' for celestial bodies
Shirin tilted her head back and stared at the silver orb in the night sky.
The fortune teller cupped a glass orb in both hands and asked Putri to look inside.
Tiny garden lights formed glowing orbs along the path to Esme's front door.
文法句型
the orb of the sun/moon
用法筆記
Mostly literary or poetic — everyday speech uses 'ball', 'sphere', or 'globe'. Frequently paired with adjectives of light or colour ('pale', 'golden', 'glowing').
常見錯誤
2. a small gold ball topped with a cross that a monarch holds during coronation rit
a small gold ball topped with a cross that a monarch holds during coronation rituals, paired with a decorated rod, to stand for their right to rule the country.
During the coronation, the new queen received the orb and sceptre from the archbishop.
fixed pairing: 'the orb and sceptre' at coronations
The royal orb sat on a red velvet cushion inside a glass case at the Tower of London.
Rafael photographed the gold orb shining under the chapel lights during the ceremony.
Crowds outside the palace cheered as the king lifted the orb above his head.
The museum guide explained that the cross on top of the orb represents religious authority over the kingdom.
- globus cruciger
specialist heraldry term for the same object
文法句型
the orb and sceptre
用法筆記
Almost always appears in historical or ceremonial contexts about monarchies. Distinguish from sense 1 (any round object) by the always-present cross on top and the coronation setting.
orb — verb
- orbpresent simple I / you / we / they
- orbs3rd person singular
- orbing-ing form
- orbedpast simple
1. to move in a curved path around something, the way a planet travels around the s
to move in a curved path around something, the way a planet travels around the sun.
In the diagram, small grey moons orb around the giant outer planets.
intransitive: 'orb around [body]' for celestial motion
Hundreds of broken satellite parts now orb the Earth at high speed.
Children watched the toy spaceship orb above the model sun on the museum ceiling.
Tiny ice particles orb the rings of Saturn for millions of years before breaking apart.
文法句型
orb around/above [object]
用法筆記
Very rare in modern English — most speakers say 'orbit' instead. Found mainly in older poetry and a few astronomy texts.
常見錯誤
2. to make a ring around something so that nothing can escape from it; mostly used
to make a ring around something so that nothing can escape from it; mostly used in old poetry about armies, walls, or shadows.
Heavy clouds orbed the mountain peak from every side that morning.
transitive literary: shadows or clouds 'orb' a place
In the old poem, golden shields orbed the wounded king on the open field.
Thick black smoke orbed the wooden house before any rescuer could enter.
Tall stone walls orbed the inner garden where Hiro grew rare flowers.
文法句型
orb [something]
用法筆記
Archaic and poetic. Modern writers use 'surround', 'enclose', or 'encircle' instead. Distinguish from sense 1 (moving around) by being transitive — the orb-verb here takes a direct object that gets ringed in.
常見錯誤
3. to shape something flat into a round disc or curve, the way a potter might press
to shape something flat into a round disc or curve, the way a potter might press wet clay between both hands.
The old potter orbed each lump of clay into a thin plate before firing it.
transitive: 'orb [material] into [round shape]'
Sora carefully orbed the silver wire into a small circle for the bracelet.
Bakers in the village orb the dough between their palms before placing it on hot stones.
The metal worker orbed each piece of copper into a perfect disc for the temple roof.
文法句型
orb [something] into [shape]
用法筆記
Very rare and dated — most craft writing uses 'shape into a circle', 'flatten', or 'round'. Distinguish from sense 2 (going around something from outside) by what happens to the object — here it physically changes shape.