Globe (?), n. [L. globus, perh. akin to L. glomus a ball of yarn, and E. clump, golf: cf. F. globe.]

1.

A round or spherical body, solid or hollow; a body whose surface is in every part equidistant from the center; a ball; a sphere.

2.

Anything which is nearly spherical or globular in shape; as, the globe of the eye; the globe of a lamp.

3.

The earth; the terraqueous ball; -- usually preceded by the definite article.

Locke.

4.

A round model of the world; a spherical representation of the earth or heavens; as, a terrestrial or celestial globe; -- called also artificial globe.

5.

A body of troops, or of men or animals, drawn up in a circle; -- a military formation used by the Romans, answering to the modern infantry square.

Him round A globe of fiery seraphim inclosed. Milton.

Globe amaranth Bot., a plant of the genus Gomphrena (G. globosa), bearing round heads of variously colored flowers, which long retain color when gathered. -- Globe animalcule, a small, globular, locomotive organism (Volvox globator), once throught to be an animal, afterward supposed to be a colony of microscopic algae. -- Globe of compression Mil., a kind of mine producing a wide crater; -- called also overcharged mine. -- Globe daisy Bot., a plant or flower of the genus Globularing, common in Europe. The flowers are minute and form globular heads. -- Globe sight, a form of front sight placed on target rifles. -- Globe slater Zool., an isopod crustacean of the genus Spheroma. -- Globe thistle Bot., a thistlelike plant with the flowers in large globular heads (Cynara Scolymus); also, certain species of the related genus Echinops. -- Globe valve. (a) A ball valve. (b) A valve inclosed in a globular chamber. Knight.

Syn. -- Globe, Sphere, Orb, Ball. -- Globe denotes a round, and usually a solid body; sphere is the term applied in astronomy to such a body, or to the concentric spheres or orbs of the old astronomers; orb is used, especially in poetry, for globe or sphere, and also for the pathway of a heavenly body; ball is applied to the heavenly bodies concieved of as impelled through space.

 

© Webster 1913.


Globe (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Globed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Globing.]

To gather or form into a globe.

 

© Webster 1913.

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