artificial globe

Globe Globe (gl[=o]b), 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. [1913 Webster]

2. Anything which is nearly spherical or globular in shape; as, the globe of the eye; the globe of a lamp. [1913 Webster]

3. The earth; the terraqueous ball; -- usually preceded by the definite article. --Locke. [1913 Webster]

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}. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

Him round A globe of fiery seraphim inclosed. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

{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 alg[ae].

{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} (Zo["o]l.), 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. [1913 Webster]

Syn: {Globe}, {Sphere}, {Orb}, {Ball}.

Usage: 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. [1913 Webster]