globe animalcule

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.
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   2. Anything which is nearly spherical or globular in shape;
      as, the globe of the eye; the globe of a lamp.
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   3. The earth; the terraqueous ball; -- usually preceded by
      the definite article. --Locke.
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   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}.
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   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.
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            Him round
            A globe of fiery seraphim inclosed.   --Milton.
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   {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} (Zool.), 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.
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   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.
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Volvox \Vol"vox\, n. (Bot.)
   A genus of minute, pale-green, globular, organisms, about one
   fiftieth of an inch in diameter, found rolling through water,
   the motion being produced by minute colorless cilia. It has
   been considered as belonging to the flagellate Infusoria, but
   is now referred to the vegetable kingdom, and each globule is
   considered a colony of many individuals. The commonest
   species is {Volvox globator}, often called {globe
   animalcule}.
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