# orb

> English word · Noun · IPA /ɔɹb/ · frequency rank #20,723

## Definitions
1. A spherical body; a sphere, especially one of the celestial spheres; a sun, planet, or star
2. Celestial sphere; one of the azure transparent spheres conceived by the ancients to be enclosed one within another, and to carry the heavenly bodies in their revolutions
3. A structural motif or finial in the shape of a sphere
4. An orbit of an heavenly body
5. The time period of an orbit
6. The eye, seen as a luminous and spherical entity
7. Any revolving circular body, such as a wheel
8. A sphere of action.
9. A globus cruciger; a ceremonial sphere used to represent royal or imperial power
10. A translucent sphere appearing in flash photography (Orb (optics))
11. A body of soldiers drawn up in a circle, as for defence, especially infantry to repel cavalry.
12. Amount of deviation from the closest perfect aspect.

## Etymology
From Middle English orbe, from Old French orbe, from Latin orbis (“circle, orb”). Compare orbit.

## Easily confused with
- **OS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/orb-vs-os)
- **oz** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/orb-vs-oz)
- **OT** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/orb-vs-ot)
- **ou** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/orb-vs-ou)
- **ow** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/orb-vs-ow)
- **ox** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/orb-vs-ox)
- **oy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/orb-vs-oy)
- **ov** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/orb-vs-ov)
- **out** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/orb-vs-out)
- **our** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/orb-vs-our)
- **own** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/orb-vs-own)
- **owe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/orb-vs-owe)
- **ore** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/orb-vs-ore)
- **owl** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/orb-vs-owl)
- **org** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/orb-vs-org)
- **Orr** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/orb-vs-orr)
- **OST** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/orb-vs-ost)
- **ova** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/orb-vs-ova)
- **OTC** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/orb-vs-otc)
- **OTT** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/orb-vs-ott)

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/orb