English Dictionary
Definition of “orbit”
orbit (ˈɔːbɪt
)
Definitions
noun
- astronomy the curved path, usually elliptical, followed by a planet, satellite, comet, etc, in its motion around another celestial body under the influence of gravitation
- a range or field of action or influence; sphere ⇒
he is out of my orbit
- anatomy the bony cavity containing the eyeball Nontechnical name eye socket
- zoology
- the skin surrounding the eye of a bird
- the hollow in which lies the eye or eyestalk of an insect or other arthropod
- physics the path of an electron in its motion around the nucleus of an atom
verb
- to move around (a body) in a curved path, usually circular or elliptical
- (tr) to send (a satellite, spacecraft, etc) into orbit
- (intr) to move in or as if in an orbit
Word Origin
C16: from Latin orbita course, from orbis circle, orb
Synonyms
View thesaurus entry
=
path,
course,
track,
cycle,
circle,
revolution,
passage,
rotation,
trajectory,
sweep,
ellipse,
circumgyration=
sphere of influence,
reach,
range,
influence,
province,
scope,
sphere,
domain,
compass,
ambit,
Usage examples
Now the Shadow is creeping in on us because our blasting has thrown us out of orbit.
Asimov, Isaac, The Complete Stories Volume 2 (1995)NASA has investigated how best to position the shuttle in orbit to shield its most vulnerable areas.
New Scientist (2003)Glenn, the first U. S. astronaut to orbit Earth, testified at a presidential commission meeting in Ohio.
CBC (2004)One such stable haven exists very close to the orbit of the Earth, scientists report in Nature.
Independent (1999)Tidal movement in the tropics is considerable, and a drifting raft could easily have been drawn into the orbit of mainland Australia.
James Cowan, ABORIGINE DREAMING: Introduction to the Wisdom and Thought of the Aboriginal Traditions of Australia (2002)
