Search Result for "music of the spheres":
Wordnet 3.0

NOUN (1)

1. an inaudible music that Pythagoras thought was produced by the celestial;


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

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 Webster] 2. Hence, any globe or globular body, especially a celestial one, as the sun, a planet, or the earth. [1913 Webster] Of celestial bodies, first the sun, A mighty sphere, he framed. --Milton. [1913 Webster] 3. (Astron.) (a) The apparent surface of the heavens, which is assumed to be spherical and everywhere equally distant, in which the heavenly bodies appear to have their places, and on which the various astronomical circles, as of right ascension and declination, the equator, ecliptic, etc., are conceived to be drawn; an ideal geometrical sphere, with the astronomical and geographical circles in their proper positions on it. (b) In ancient astronomy, one of the concentric and eccentric revolving spherical transparent shells in which the stars, sun, planets, and moon were supposed to be set, and by which they were carried, in such a manner as to produce their apparent motions. [1913 Webster] 4. (Logic) The extension of a general conception, or the totality of the individuals or species to which it may be applied. [1913 Webster] 5. Circuit or range of action, knowledge, or influence; compass; province; employment; place of existence. [1913 Webster] To be called into a huge sphere, and not to be seen to move in 't. --Shak. [1913 Webster] Taking her out of the ordinary relations with humanity, and inclosing her in a sphere by herself. --Hawthorne. [1913 Webster] Each in his hidden sphere of joy or woe Our hermit spirits dwell. --Keble. [1913 Webster] 6. Rank; order of society; social positions. [1913 Webster] 7. An orbit, as of a star; a socket. [R.] --Shak. [1913 Webster] Armillary sphere, Crystalline sphere, Oblique sphere,. See under Armillary, Crystalline,. Doctrine of the sphere, applications of the principles of spherical trigonometry to the properties and relations of the circles of the sphere, and the problems connected with them, in astronomy and geography, as to the latitudes and longitudes, distance and bearing, of places on the earth, and the right ascension and declination, altitude and azimuth, rising and setting, etc., of the heavenly bodies; spherical geometry. Music of the spheres. See under Music. [1913 Webster] Syn: Globe; orb; circle. See Globe. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Music \Mu"sic\, n. [F. musique, fr. L. musica, Gr. ? (sc. ?), any art over which the Muses presided, especially music, lyric poetry set and sung to music, fr. ? belonging to Muses or fine arts, fr. ? Muse.] 1. The science and the art of tones, or musical sounds, i. e., sounds of higher or lower pitch, begotten of uniform and synchronous vibrations, as of a string at various degrees of tension; the science of harmonical tones which treats of the principles of harmony, or the properties, dependences, and relations of tones to each other; the art of combining tones in a manner to please the ear. [1913 Webster] Note: Not all sounds are tones. Sounds may be unmusical and yet please the ear. Music deals with tones, and with no other sounds. See Tone. [1913 Webster] 2. (a) Melody; a rhythmical and otherwise agreeable succession of tones. (b) Harmony; an accordant combination of simultaneous tones. [1913 Webster] 3. The written and printed notation of a musical composition; the score. [1913 Webster] 4. Love of music; capacity of enjoying music. [1913 Webster] The man that hath no music in himself Nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds, Is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils. --Shak. [1913 Webster] 5. (Zool.) A more or less musical sound made by many of the lower animals. See Stridulation. [1913 Webster] Magic music, a game in which a person is guided in finding a hidden article, or in doing a specific art required, by music which is made more loud or rapid as he approaches success, and slower as he recedes. --Tennyson. Music box. See Musical box, under Musical. Music hall, a place for public musical entertainments. Music loft, a gallery for musicians, as in a dancing room or a church. Music of the spheres, the harmony supposed to be produced by the accordant movement of the celestial spheres. Music paper, paper ruled with the musical staff, for the use of composers and copyists. Music pen, a pen for ruling at one time the five lines of the musical staff. Music shell (Zool.), a handsomely colored marine gastropod shell (Voluta musica) found in the East Indies; -- so called because the color markings often resemble printed music. Sometimes applied to other shells similarly marked. To face the music, to meet any disagreeable necessity, such as a reprimand for an error or misdeed, without flinching. [Colloq. or Slang] [1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

music of the spheres n 1: an inaudible music that Pythagoras thought was produced by the celestial