Meaning & Definition of word "Hemisphere"
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Hemisphere
/ˈhɛm.ɪ.sfɪər/
noun:
- 1. A half of a spherical object; specifically in geography, one of the two halves of the Earth divided by the equator or by a meridian.
- Example: The Northern Hemisphere experiences winter during the Southern Hemisphere's summer.
- 2. A half of the celestial sphere.
- Example: Astronomers often refer to the visible stars in the sky in terms of the northern and southern hemispheres.
- 3. One half of the brain, either the left or the right.
- Example: The left hemisphere of the brain is often associated with logical reasoning and analytical skills.
Etymology
From Latin 'hemisphaerium', from Greek 'hēmisus', meaning half, + 'sphaira', meaning sphere.
Common Phrases and Expressions
northern hemisphere:
The half of the Earth that is north of the equator.
southern hemisphere:
The half of the Earth that is south of the equator.
brain hemisphere:
Refers to one of the two halves of the brain.
Related Words
spheroid:
An object shaped like a sphere but slightly flattened.
equator:
An imaginary line around the Earth that divides it into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
latitude:
The measurement of distance north or south of the equator.