HEAVENS

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does heavens mean? 

• HEAVENS (noun)
  The noun HEAVENS has 1 sense:

1. the apparent surface of the imaginary sphere on which celestial bodies appear to be projected

  Familiarity information: HEAVENS used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• HEAVENS (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The apparent surface of the imaginary sphere on which celestial bodies appear to be projected

Classified under:

Nouns denoting spatial position

Synonyms:

celestial sphere; empyrean; firmament; heavens; sphere; vault of heaven; welkin

Hypernyms ("heavens" is a kind of...):

surface (the extended two-dimensional outer boundary of a three-dimensional object)

Meronyms (parts of "heavens"):

apex; apex of the sun's way; solar apex (the point on the celestial sphere toward which the sun and solar system appear to be moving relative to the fixed stars)

celestial point (a point in the heavens (on the celestial sphere))

nadir (the point below the observer that is directly opposite the zenith on the imaginary sphere against which celestial bodies appear to be projected)

zenith (the point above the observer that is directly opposite the nadir on the imaginary sphere against which celestial bodies appear to be projected)

zodiac (a belt-shaped region in the heavens on either side to the ecliptic; divided into 12 constellations or signs for astrological purposes)

 Context examples 

“We thought that if we could only find—Good heavens, Mr. Holmes! What is the matter?”

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Hereupon she was terrified, and said: Ah, heavens!

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

Heavens, I hear his step upon the stair!

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“Great heavens!” cried the inspector, “it is, indeed, the missing man. I know him from the photograph.”

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It advanced from behind the mountains of Jura, and the thunder burst at once with frightful loudness from various quarters of the heavens.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

“Good heavens!” cried Holmes in amazement. “How did he die?”

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“By heavens, come what may, my arms are going round it this time.”

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Then he surveyed the heavens and ran his eye along the white sky-line to the south.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

“Oh, heavens! My beloved Catherine, have I got you at last?” was her address on Catherine's entering the box and sitting by her.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

“Good heavens, Clara, do you see?” exclaimed Miss Murdstone.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)