globus: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Rare / TechnicalFormal, Scientific, Medical
Quick answer
What does “globus” mean?
A round or spherical object, mass, or figure.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A round or spherical object, mass, or figure; a globe.
In medical contexts, a sensation of a lump in the throat; in scientific contexts, a Latin-derived term for a spherical body.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in usage. The word is equally rare and technical in both variants.
Connotations
Connotes a formal, precise, or classical scientific/medical context.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general language; almost exclusively found in medical (Globus pharyngeus/sensation) and some historical or scientific texts.
Grammar
How to Use “globus” in a Sentence
suffer from ~experience ~a feeling of ~diagnosed with ~Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “globus” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A. No standard verb form exists.
American English
- N/A. No standard verb form exists.
adverb
British English
- N/A. No adverb form exists.
American English
- N/A. No adverb form exists.
adjective
British English
- N/A. The adjectival form is 'global', not derived from globus.
American English
- N/A. The adjectival form is 'global', not derived from globus.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used in business contexts.
Academic
Used in medical and psychological literature to describe a psychosomatic throat sensation.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Used in neurology (Globus pallidus) and otolaryngology/psychosomatic medicine (Globus pharyngeus).
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “globus”
- Using 'globus' to mean a common spherical object or a world map in modern English.
- Pronouncing it with a hard 'g' as /ɡlɒbəs/; it's a soft 'g' /ɡləʊ/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a very rare and highly technical/medical term. The common word for a spherical object is 'globe' or 'sphere'.
It is the full medical term for the 'globus sensation'—a persistent feeling of a lump or tightness in the throat with no actual physical presence.
No, that would be incorrect and archaic in modern English. The correct term is a '(terrestrial) globe' or simply 'globe'.
The only difference follows the general pattern for the vowel in 'globe': British /ɡləʊbəs/ vs. American /ɡloʊbəs/.
A round or spherical object, mass, or figure.
Globus is usually formal, scientific, medical in register.
Globus: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɡləʊbəs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɡloʊbəs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None. The term is too technical for idiomatic use.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'GLOBE' + 'US' -> a globe inside us, like a lump in the throat.
Conceptual Metaphor
EMOTIONAL DISTRESS IS A PHYSICAL OBSTRUCTION (for the medical condition).
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'globus' most commonly used in modern English?