armillary — a. like, pertaining to or composed of rings. ♦ armillary sphere, celestial globe composed only of rings marking equator, tropics, etc … Dictionary of difficult words
armillary — adj. relating to bracelets. Phrases and idioms: armillary sphere hist. a representation of the celestial globe constructed from metal rings and showing the equator, the tropics, etc. Etymology: mod.L armillaris f. L armilla bracelet … Useful english dictionary
Armillary sphere — Armillary Ar mil*la*ry, a. [LL. armillarius, fr. L. armilla arm ring, bracelet, fr. armus arm: cf. F. armillaire. See {Arm}, n.] Pertaining to, or resembling, a bracelet or ring; consisting of rings or circles. [1913 Webster] {Armillary sphere},… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
armillary sphere — [är′mə ler΄ē] n. [< L armilla, armlet, bracelet < armus: see ARM2] an ancient astronomical sighting instrument representing the great circles of the horizon, the ecliptic, the meridian, etc … English World dictionary
Armillary sphere — An armillary sphere (variations are known as spherical astrolabe, armilla, or armil) is a model of the celestial sphere. Description and use of the armillary sphere The exterior parts of this machine are a compages of brass rings, which represent … Wikipedia
Armillary sphere — Sphere Sphere, n. [OE. spere, OF. espere, F. sph[ e]re, L. sphaera,. Gr. ??? a sphere, a ball.] 1. (Geom.) A body or space contained under a single surface, which in every part is equally distant from a point within called its center. [1913… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
armillary sphere — Astron. an ancient instrument consisting of an arrangement of rings, all of which are circles of the same sphere, used to show the relative positions of the celestial equator, ecliptic, and other circles on the celestial sphere. [1550 60] * * * ▪ … Universalium
armillary — /ahr meuh ler ee, ahr mil euh ree/, adj. consisting of hoops or rings. [1655 65; < L armill(a) bracelet, hoop (arm(us) shoulder (see ARM1) + illa dim. suffix) + ARY] * * * … Universalium
armillary — adjective Resembling a bracelet or armilla; consisting of rings or circles … Wiktionary
armillary — ar·mil·lary … English syllables