noun
Common
hemisphere
HEH-mihs-feer
Hemisphere (noun) means one half of the Earth, typically divided north/south by the equator or east/west by a chosen meridian. Example: “Australia sits entirely in the Southern Hemisphere.”
noun
1
One half of the Earth, typically divided north/south by the equator or east/west by a chosen meridian.
"Australia sits entirely in the Southern Hemisphere."
"Winter in the Northern Hemisphere lines up with summer in the Southern Hemisphere."
"Many migrating birds cross from one hemisphere to the other each year."
2
Either the left or right half of the brain.
"The left hemisphere of the brain is often linked to language processing."
"Damage to the right hemisphere can affect how people recognise faces."
"Each hemisphere of the brain controls movement on the opposite side of the body."
3
Half of any sphere, cut by a plane through its center.
"The dome was built as a perfect hemisphere."
"She cut the melon and scooped out one hemisphere with a spoon."
"The glass bowl was shaped like a smooth, perfect hemisphere."
How to use hemisphere
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishHalf of a sphere — used for halves of the Earth, the brain, or any round shape.
Common pairings
Northern Hemisphere
Southern Hemisphere
left hemisphere of the brain
Western Hemisphere
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Word forms
- Plural
- hemispheres
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Australia sits entirely in the Southern _____.
Etymology
From Greek hemisphairion, combining hemi- ("half") and sphaira ("sphere").
Synonyms
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half globe
terrestrial hemisphere
half sphere
Rhymes for hemisphere
See all rhymes for hemisphere →Frequently asked questions
What does “hemisphere” mean?
The word “hemisphere” means one half of the Earth, typically divided north/south by the equator or east/west by a chosen meridian. In plain terms, half of a sphere — used for halves of the Earth, the brain, or any round shape.
How do you pronounce “hemisphere”?
“Hemisphere” is pronounced HEH-mihs-feer (/ˈhɛmɪsfɪɹ/ in IPA).
How do you use “hemisphere” in a sentence?
Here is “hemisphere” used in a sentence: “Australia sits entirely in the Southern Hemisphere.”
What is another word for “hemisphere”?
Words with a similar meaning to “hemisphere” include terrestrial hemisphere and half sphere.
What part of speech is “hemisphere”?
“Hemisphere” is a noun.
Where does the word “hemisphere” come from?
The word “hemisphere” comes from Greek. From Greek hemisphairion, combining hemi- ("half") and sphaira ("sphere").
Is “hemisphere” a common word?
“Hemisphere” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “hemisphere” have?
“Hemisphere” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: one half of the Earth, typically divided north/south by the equator or east/west by a chosen meridian.
What is the difference between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres?
The Northern Hemisphere is the half of the Earth north of the equator, while the Southern Hemisphere is the half south of it. The two hemispheres experience opposite seasons at the same time of year because of the tilt of the Earth's axis.
What is the difference between the left and right hemisphere of the brain?
The left and right hemispheres are the two halves of the brain, connected by a bundle of nerve fibers. They are popularly associated with different functions, though brain research shows most complex tasks involve both hemispheres working together rather than one side alone.
How is a hemisphere different from a sphere?
A sphere is a complete round three-dimensional shape, while a hemisphere is exactly half of a sphere, created by cutting it with a plane through its center. The word applies both to geometric shapes and to real-world divisions like the Earth or the brain.
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