Globe

(glob.) [L. globus, a sphere.] (Math. and Ast.) An artificial spherical body, on the convex surface of which are depicted the countries, oceans, ., of the earth, or the aspect of the heavens, with the several celestial circles. The former is known as the terrestrial globe, and the latter as the celestial. Their principal use, besides serving respectively to distinguish the earth's surface, and to mark the situation of the fixed stars,is to illustrate and explain the phenomena arising from the diurnal motion of the earth. The use of the G. was well known to the ancients, and the two oldest ones extant are of Arabian origin. [s. 412]