LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
noun · femininefirst declension

sphaera

sphaera f (genitive sphaerae)
Classical[ˈspʰae̯.ra]Ecclesiastical[ˈsfɛː.ra]

Meaning

  1. feminineball, globe, sphere
  2. femininea globe of the heavens
  3. femininea ball for playing

Latīnē defined in Latin in our graded readers

Choosing the right word Döderlein's Latin Synonyms

Globus · Sphæra

Globus is the popular term for any body that is round like a ball; whereas sphæra is the scientific term, derived from the Greek for a mathematical globe. (vi. 147.)

Declension

declension
formsingularplural
nominativesphaerasphaerae
sphērae
genitivesphaerae
sphērae		sphaerārum
sphērārum
dativesphaerae
sphērae		sphaerīs
sphērīs
accusativesphaeram
sphēram		sphaerās
sphērās
ablativesphaerāsphaerīs
sphērīs
vocativesphaerasphaerae
sphērae

sphaera (post-class. sphēra; once sphĕra, Prud. Apoth. 278), ae, f., = σφαῖρα,
I. a ball, globe, sphere (pure Lat. globus, Cic. N. D. 2, 18, 47).
I. In gen.: sphaeras pugnum altas facito, Cato, R. R. 82; Cic. Fat. 8, 15: habent suam sphaeram stellae inerrantes, id. N. D. 2, 21, 55.—
II. In partic.
A. A globe or sphere made to represent the heavenly bodies, Cic. Rep. 1, 14, 21 sq.; 1, 17, 28; id. Tusc. 1, 25, 63; 5, 23, 64; id. N. D. 2, 35, 88; id. de Or. 3, 40, 162.—
B. A globe, one of the great bodies of the universe, Macr. Somn. Scip. 2, 4, 8; Mart. Cap. 7, § 741.—
C. A ball for playing with (syn. follis), Cael. Aur. Tard. 3, 6, 88; 5, 11, 134; Amm. 21, 14, 1; in the hand of a statue, id. 25, 10, 2.

Origins

Borrowed from Ancient Greek σφαῖρᾰ (sphaîră, “ball, globe”).

Descendants
  • Catalanesfera
  • Frenchsphère
  • Italiansfera
  • Romaniansferă
  • Spanishesfera
  • Englishsphere
  • Englishsphaera recta
  • GermanSphäre
  • Portugueseesfera
  • Italianspera

Quick answers

What does sphaera mean in Latin?
sphaera, a noun, means “ball, globe, sphere; a globe of the heavens; a ball for playing”.
What is the genitive of sphaera?
The genitive singular is sphaerae. sphaera is feminine, first declension.
How do you pronounce sphaera?
In classical Latin, [ˈspʰae̯.ra]; in ecclesiastical (church) Latin, [ˈsfɛː.ra].